Essay about Meanings of Intelligence and Adaptive Behavior

Meanings of Intelligence and Adaptive Behavior Tina Dean Grand Canyon University: SPE 553 November 26, 2012 Meanings of Intelligence and Adaptive Behavior Until several years ago, many students who were classified as having ID or assigned into an inclusion classroom were not expected to participate in standardized testing, however as late, everyone in public schools is expected to participate in standardized assessments. Some educators are happy with the change while others are concerned the assessments are not an accurate assessment of what students actually know. For many students with learning disabilities, standardized assessments often don’t accurately indicate what the student truly knows and where they have deficits. One†¦show more content†¦Inclusion needs to be implemented in a way that will not only boost the quality of performance generated by the assessment but also the constructive outcome of the education being provided. The difficulty therefore lies in being able to implement a sound assessment because of the significant essential factors. One factor that would have to be determined is how many special education students would qualify as ineligible to partake in the regular education assessments. Another factor that would be solved would be how the regular education assessment could be enhanced to better suit the needs of the special education students. Also, the decision would have to be made to determine the criteria for students who would qualify for accommodations and which accommodations would be appropriate. In order for all these decisions to be made, it is essential for all the characteristics as well as the needs of the indentified students be met, and it is almost impo ssible if the identification and classification of the students continue to be inconsistent. Another problem with assessing indentified students is the fact of accommodations. When a test is given to a student with disabilities, certain changes or â€Å"accommodations† are made. Some of these accommodations are simple as testing the student in a smaller group, allowing the frequent monitored breaks, allowing the student extra time to finishShow MoreRelatedComplexity Leadership For An Education Mnc1698 Words   |  7 PagesKnowledge is powerful, and creating a shared sense of knowledge and cultivating this throughout the organization, rather than a few leaders with the knowledge is required in leading a complex adaptive system (Best, 2014). 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Health Psychology Stress and Well Being Free Essays

string(57) " how the individual appraises the situation or stressor\." Health Psychology: Stress and Well Being Shavonia Finley PSY 101: Introduction to Psychology Destiny Champion February 14, 2011 Health Psychology: Stress and Well Being In everyone’s life a little stress must fall. We all have to deal with daily hassles and various personal stressors that effect our emotional and physical health. The manner in which we deal with these stressors can alleviate or reduce stress or it can make things worse. We will write a custom essay sample on Health Psychology: Stress and Well Being or any similar topic only for you Order Now Mind and body issues have bemused philosophers and psychologists since the ancient Greeks; however recently a new subfield in psychology has immerged to investigate the subject. Health psychology focuses on psychological factors and how they relate to wellness and illness. This would include prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of various medical ailments. More specifically, psychoneuroimmunology is a growing field dedicated to examining how psychological factors, the immune system, and the brain work together. For most people life is filled with small hassles that recur on a regular basis. Busy schedules at home and at work coupled with a traffic filled commute before your day even gets going can cause stress. These stressors are known as background stressors and are the most easily dealt with. They are the daily hassles that irritate us, do not require much coping, and are soon forgotten. Other background stressors can be classified as long term, chronic problems. Dissatisfaction with work, a relationship that is not fulfilling, or a culmination of minor stressors can manifest into health problems such as psychological symptoms, backaches, sore throat, or even the flu [ (Feldman, 2009) ]. The opposite of the daily hassle is uplifts. These are those positive little things that make us feel good. Uplifts are usually temporary, but when we experience more uplifts than stressors we experience less psychological symptoms. An example of an uplift might be something like getting a compliment or completing a task. Stressors such as the terrorist attack in 2001 or Hurricane Katrina in 2005 are classified as cataclysmic events. Cataclysmic events are experienced by many people at once and usually do not have potent, lingering effects. Social support is abundant because so many people share the same first-hand account of the event and can understand each other’s feelings. Another major category of stressors is personal stressors. This would be brought on by things that are more personal such as the loss of a job or the death of a loved one. These types of stressors yield an immediate response that tapers over time allowing us to better cope. How we initially react to a stressor shows that there is a direct link between our mental and physical functions. Walter Cannon’s research in biological psychology, early in the 20th century, led him to describe the â€Å"fight or flight† response of the sympathetic nervous system to perceived threats to physical or emotional security (Feldman, 2009). The body reacts with an increase in heart rate and blood pressure, increase in perspiration, hearing and vision become more acute, and the hands and feet become cold due to blood being directed to large muscles in preparation for fight or fleeing. Hans Selye took this a little further and popularized the concept of stress in the 1950’s. His theory, which he called general adaption syndrome, suggests all individuals have the same or similar response to threatening situations. He believed that not only did the sympathetic nervous system respond, but also the adrenal cortex and the pituitary gland. The theory is that enough epinephrine, or adrenaline, is produced to focus the body on immediate self preservation and shut down other functions such as digestion, reproduction, tissue repair, and the immune system. A constant threat or stressor would leave these functions inhibited and cause the individual to be susceptible to illness (Richmond, 1997). This inhibition of bodily functions can also exacerbate an existing illness. There are three stages; alarm and mobilization when the stressor is realized, resistance or the attempt to cope, and if coping was not adequate, exhaustion and the onset of negative consequences. One example of how stress can leave someone vulnerable to illness is clear when we look at the case of an adolescent girl named Tatiana. Tatiana has had to take on parental responsibilities for her little sister for the past several years, giving up all social time with her friends to do so. She has also had knowledge of the financial difficulties her parents have had to deal with recently. To make matters worse, she has had to move from her home, just as she is starting middle school, to a whole new state. Recently she presented with severe abdominal pains from constipation. None of the over-the-counter remedies helped and she was admitted to the hospital. She was diagnosed with a virus that paralyzed her intestines so the doctor gave her antibiotics and a special diet to follow. Unfortunately, her condition continued to decline and the doctors decided her symptoms were psychosomatic, implying her illness was not real. She eventually lost all muscle function in her arms and legs and was confined to a wheelchair. She then was enrolled in a program run by a health psychologist designed to treat psychophysiological disorders. Since her physical ailments were already being treated by a pediatrician they could concentrate on the psychological and emotional difficulties and how they all interacted. After two months in the program, Tatiana is now able to walk on her own and is no longer having digestive difficulties. As she has stated, â€Å"I was very angry with my parents. They never asked me what I wanted. They treat me like a baby, but they want me to do grown-up stuff. I hated them for that† (Wells, 2011). While Selye’s theory has impacted our understanding of stress, it has also been challenged. His theory suggests that no matter what the stressor, the biological reaction will be similar in all individuals. Health psychologists today believe the reaction is also determined by how the individual appraises the situation or stressor. You read "Health Psychology: Stress and Well Being" in category "Papers" For example, another adolescent in Tatiana’s situation may simply have acted out instead of becoming ill. The situation could have been perceived by another as stressful, but not unusual, therefore the different perception would result in a different outcome. Due to these differences in perspective, there has been an increased focus on psychoneuroimmunology and stress. Psychoneuroimmunology takes a broader approach to stress. It focuses more directly on the outcomes of stress; three main consequences have been identified. First, the physiological results of stress include increased blood pressure, hormonal activity, and an overall decline in the effectiveness of the immune system. Second, stress can cause people to behave in ways that are not productive and even harmful such as drug, alcohol, or nicotine use, poor eating habits, and a decrease in sleep. Third, indirect consequences that can cause a decline in health and the likelihood that medical advice will be ignored if ever sought. One of the biggest illnesses associated with stress is coronary heart disease. You may know someone who is always in competition with others, is easily irritated, or is overly aggressive. We all feel this way sometimes, but there are those who carry the set of personality traits know as the Type-A behavior pattern. Then there are those who fall into Type-B behavior pattern which is more patient, noncompetitive, nonaggressive, and cooperative. These two behavior types are the polar ends of a continuum and most people fall somewhere in the middle. Type-A personalities in males are highly associated with coronary heart disease. Hostility seems to be a key factor since it triggers the production of epinephrine and norepinephrine, increases heart rate, and raises blood pressure. When this response is exaggerated and continuous there is an increased incidence of coronary heart disease (Feldman, 2009). For most of society stress has been recognized as a part of life. Therefore people have devised many ways to control, reduce or tolerate it. These methods are known as coping and are often utilized in multiples. The most common methods of coping with stress are emotion-focused and problem-focused. Emotion-focused coping focuses on people trying to change the way they feel about or perceive a problem; like looking on the bright side. Problem-focused coping strategies include modification of the source of the stress; an example would be learning how to fix your own car to maintain and avoid costly repairs. Common coping methods vary widely in individuals. Most will choose healthy resolutions such as relaxation techniques to slow down the sympathetic nervous system. These include exercise, meditation, prayer, joining a support group, or any other activity that relaxes you such as painting or listening to music. There are also those who will choose unhealthy courses of action. For them alcohol use is the number one choice. Others may choose to use drugs, nicotine, overeat, or starve themselves. Some people choose yet another course of action called learned helplessness. This is when someone is faced with a situation that seems intolerable and they eventually give up. Their environment has ingrained in them that certain situations cannot be controlled or changed regardless if it can or not. The opposite would be the person with a hardy personality. They seem to have the most success with dealing with stress. This personality type has three distinct characteristics: commitment, challenge, and control. They usually throw themselves into whatever they are working on, they believe change is the norm in life rather than stability, and they give the perception that they can influence the events in their lives. Managing stress before it becomes too difficult to control is another aspect of coping. Having a healthy perspective of most situations will allow you to prioritize your life reducing the potential stressors. Also, having a realistic self image and reasonable expectations will allow you to set appropriate goals. The achievement of such goals will result in an uplift rather than a perceived failure. Once stress can be managed there can be a pursuit for happiness. Over the course of a life there will be times that are happier than others or not happy at all. In a study performed by Carol Ryff it was determined that happiness can be measured in six dimensions; prior studies did not include as many dimensions (1989). The dimensions described in her study would be self acceptance, positive relations with others, autonomy, environmental mastery, purpose in life, and personal growth. Her study surveyed 321 men and women of varying ages. Someone scoring high would possess a positive attitude toward themselves including their good and bad qualities. They would also show empathy towards others and understand the give and take of relationships. Autonomy is seen in someone who is independent and able to resist social pressures. Someone who has become an environmental master has a sense of competence in controlling external activities. Believing you have a purpose in life means you have goals and a sense of direction. Finally, having a feeling of continued development and openness to new experiences shows personal growth. Another study used the person-environment fit theory to compare work and family experiences to the person’s values and how they relate to stress and well-being. The idea behind the study was to see if the amount of supplies we value influences well-being when they increase and decrease. The dimensions looked at were autonomy, relationships, security, and segmentation. Person – environment fit theory says that stress occurs when there is a perceived mismatch between the environment and a person’s goals, desires, and values (Edwards Rothbard, 1999). Cognitive appraisal is directly incorporated into the concept of stress. Basically, person – environment theory predicts well-being when there is a perceived match in environment and values. The opposite, or stress, occurs when there is a mismatch. The onset of stress will cause mental and physical strain and stimulate efforts to cope. There are three reasons why well being should be higher when autonomy supplies and values are both high rather than low. First, high autonomy supplies may consist of high supplies for responsibility and authority, in other words accomplishment and status, which many people value. Second, desiring and attaining high levels of autonomy possibly constitutes a supply for values pertaining to accomplishment and adjustment. Third, autonomy allows for freedom to allocate time and resources to meet life’s high demands. High control in addition to high demands gives people the ability to successfully cope with challenging situations, which leads to satisfaction and growth. The next dimension is relationships or personal connections with other people. People are naturally motivated to establish and maintain relationships. This is true at work and with family members. Relationships play such a dominant role in stress research because they provide social support that facilitates coping with stress and achieving well-being. When a person has a desire for strong connections with others it suggests they have achieved ambitious goals regarding social integration. The third dimension of well being is security, which is defined as â€Å"the belief that membership in a role is stable and likely to continue† (Edwards Rothbard, 1999). An example would be the feeling of job security or security within a marriage. Security is yet another basic human motive. Finally, the degree of separation or insulation there is between work and family is segmentation. Keeping your family stresses and work stresses separate requires an active effort on the part of the person. Managing boundaries between the two allows the person to inhibit the transfer of stressful experiences between the two. The study of mental and physical well being done by health psychologists and psychoneuroimmunolgists is still relatively new and is opening the door to many new career fields. The opportunities for careers in health psychology in this country are plentiful. Medical settings, especially medical centers, have expanded their employment opportunities for psychologists. In addition to medical centers, health psychologists often work in colleges and universities, medical schools, health maintenance organizations, rehabilitation centers, pain management centers, public health agencies, hospitals, and private consultation/practice offices [ (American Psychological Association: Health Psychology, 2011) ]. In addition to the specific skills that psychologists offer to patients and staff in the medical community, psychologists offer a unique perspective that assists other healthcare professionals make certain that health care is helpful and cost-effective. Health psychologists have focused on how life’s ups and downs can affect our mental and physical health. They have stirred professional and public interest in how biology, the environment, and our behaviors influence health and illness. Their studies have provided us with methods of coping and anaging stress so it is possible to maintain a healthy lifestyle. The more we learn about the relationship between biology, our environment, and behavior the better equipped we will be at preventing, diagnosing, and managing chronic illness. References American Psychological Association: Health Psychology. (2011). Retrieved January 27, 2011, from APA Division 38: http://www. health-psych. org/abouthowtobecome. cfm Edwards, J. R. , Rothba rd, N. P. (1999). Work and Family Stress and Well-Being: An Examination of Person-Environment Fit in the Work and Family Domains. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes , 77 (No. 2), 85 – 129. Feldman, R. S. (2009). Understanding Psychology (9th ed. ). New York: McGraw-Hill. R. L. Richmond, P. (1997). The Psychcology of â€Å"Stress Management†. Retrieved January 2011, from A guide to psychology and its practice: http://www. guidetopsychology. com/stress. htm Ryff, C. D. (1989). Happiness is Everything, or Is It? Explorations on the Meaning of Psychological Well-Being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology , 57 (No. 6), 1069 – 1081. Wells, T. (2011, February 5). (S. Finley, Interviewer) How to cite Health Psychology: Stress and Well Being, Papers

Supernatural Forces In Macbeth Essays - Characters In Macbeth

Supernatural Forces In Macbeth Supernatural Forces in Macbeth Supernatural forces in Shakespeares' ?Macbeth? aid the play in creating a suspenseful atmosphere. The use of the supernatural in the witches, the visions, the ghost and the apparitions are the backbone of the climax and provide ?excuses? for Macbeth's change of character. Because conscience plays such a central role in Macbeth's tragic struggle, many critics have used spiritual and supernatural theories both historical and modern to illuminate the drama's character development and world view. The play opens with the use of the supernatural when three witches encounter Macbeth on his way home from a battle and proceed to predict his fate. This gives the audience a glimpse of path the play will follow. ?When the battles (battle is) lost and won (I. I. 1-4) is when the witches plan to meet again. This is a recurring theme throughout the play. It can be noted that the witches meet after every battle is lost and won, and every battle, whether man against man, man against nature or man against himself is always lost by one side and won by another. Eventually Macbeth will lose the battle for his soul. After the prophecies of the witches' revealed the fate of Macbeth was to be king, he begins to develop an immoral plan to carry out the prophecy. The only way for Macbeth to have the throne is to wait or to kill King Duncan. Macbeth already knew he was going to be king because the witches forecasted it in his future, so how he went about getting there was not a concern of Macbeth's . The three sister's were capable of motivating Macbeth to kill Duncan by planting the idea in his head that he could be king. The ?ghostly? dagger, which led Macbeth to Duncan's chamber, also represents the supernatural forces that cause the fall of Macbeth. and in the grim irony of his pledge of loyalty just 30 lines after his ?horrible imagings? (1.3.138) of murder. His benumbed isolation before, during and right after Duncan's murder is one of the most vivid memories, and we can see him in the same abstraction again among the mourners after Duncan is found.? (Manyard 62) Macbeth's memories of the murder of king Duncan were too cloudy for him to remember because the disallusionment and distraction of the knife influenced him to go through with killing Duncan. Macbeth was led towards Duncan's room by the bloody knife and even had second thoughts of the murder of the king, until Lady Macbeth stepped in. ?These deeds must not be thought. After these ways, so make us mad.? (II.II.32-33) This convinces Macbeth to go back and finish his deed. I feel the floating dagger along with emotions and adrenaline coaxed Macbeth to the murder. Had it not been for the dagger he probably wouldn't have ever traveled up the stairs to Duncan's chamber.

Business Analysis Part I Ford Motor Company Essays

Business Analysis Part I Ford Motor Company Essays Business Analysis Part I Ford Motor Company Essay Business Analysis Part I Ford Motor Company Essay Business Analysis Part II Ford Motor Company Rocio Rodriguez MGT/521 Management May 25, 2011 Nickolas Skelton Business Analysis Part I Ford Motor Company Henry Ford and a group of investors founded what is known as the Ford Motor Company in 1903 based out in Dearborn, Michigan. The entrepreneur began manufacturing all of the automotive parts used in production and started the innovation of a moving assembly line to mass produce vehicles that are affordable to the public. Although the company changed names and investors a few times, it remained strong enough to survive through the great depression and become one of the largest auto manufacturers in the world today. The following analysis covers the company’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats to obtain a better understanding of the successes and downfalls of Ford Motor Company. Strengths Despite of the recent downturn in the economy, Ford remains a competitive force in automobile manufacturing market. Certain factors exist that strengthen the company’s brand and product. For example, Ford Motor Company is the top 4th largest car manufacturing entity in the world (Ford, 2011). The company has 90 manufacturing plants worldwide, 7,000 supplier facilities that distribute vehicles in six continents, and all 50 U. S. states (Ford, 2011). Ford has a strong presence in the market and is easily recognized worldwide with the slogan â€Å"Built Ford Tough† as the company motto (Ford, 2011). The company keeps a competitive advantage by following innovative trends that attract the attention of more consumers. One of these trends focuses on fuel efficiency, brought on by the current deteriorating economic state. Ford’s fuel-efficient lineup increased sales by 19% since the launch in 2009 (Ford, 2011). Even the less economic models are still in demand because of their design, durability, and versatility. The Ford-F150, Ford’s most popular vehicle, is the current top seller on the market for this year (Ford, 2011). Ford is comfortably sitting at #10 on the Fortune 500 list and has made an astonishing $6. 6 billion in net income for the first quarter of 2011, which is the most the company has made in the ast 10 years (Ford Motor Company, 2011). Ford established Ford Motor Credit Company to offer the public a more accessible way to finance vehicles and survived through the failing economy. The company made it without any government bailout funds because the owner made a wise move and obtained $24 billion in financing a short time before the economy took a turn for the worse (Ford Motor Company, 2001). That money helped the company stay afloat until they could make profit again. Another strength the company has is its reputation and their corporate social responsibility with the public and the environment. Ford Motor Company provides support to many causes such as disaster relief efforts in the United States, invests in education for children, promotes safe driving programs for teens, and helps American farmers strive (Ford Motor Company, 2011). Ford is also a proud supporter of NASCAR and started the Performance Racing Parts segment of the business. The company is following the trend of environmentally friendly products by researching solar powered and electric vehicles that reduce emissions and harm the environment. The company plans to invest $14 billion in Research and Development in 2011 to improve fuel efficiency in Ford models by over 25% (Mulally, 2010). Because of the constant contribution and involvement in the community, the public is aware that Ford is not in it just for the money; ultimately Ford contributes and makes a difference in society and embraces the earth’s environmental health. Weaknesses Despite all the strengths mentioned above, there are weaknesses that can hinder Ford’s success. The most obvious weakness is the troubling economy. The economic downfall affected everyone including all car manufacturers. Consumers lost jobs, homes, and stability during these tough times, and purchasing vehicles was no longer a priority for most Americans. The demand for vehicles, especially trucks, dropped dramatically because of the lack of income for consumers, the rise in gas prices, and fewer lending opportunities. Additionally, just as the economy began to fall, so did the stock prices. Ford stock prices hit the ultimate low in 2009 selling at $1. 74 compared to the $14. 91 in the first quarter of 2011 (History of the Stock Market Crash, 2011). The most dangerous disadvantage for Ford’s weak market share North American automotive operations. Ford’s market share dropped 6. 3% from 2003 to 2008 and is currently making a slow and steady increase (Ford, 2008). Competitors like Toyota and Honda led the market with quality, fuel efficient models, at a bargain price. The weakness that tarnished Ford’s reputation and financial health has to be the recalls of some models because safety concerns. Ford recalled a total of 16 million vehicles in 2009 because of a faulty cruise control switch that causes a fire in the vehicle (Ford, 2008). Similarly, in 2008 Ford recalled Escape models due to transmission failure issues. Additionally, who can forget the notorious Firestone tire recall in 2001 that claimed the lives of many drivers worldwide (Ford, 2008). The tread on the defective tires on most Explorer models peeled off and when they failed it caused the vehicle to roll over and cause fatal accidents (Legal Information Center, 2001). This recall cost Ford $2 billion, the competitive advantage in the United States light-truck and sport/utility vehicle market, and the trust of the consumer (Isidore, 2001). Opportunities Nonetheless, Ford has moved forward and learned from their experiences and is focused on expanding the opportunities for the business. Because the environmental factor is a leading trend in the market, Ford has taken the opportunity to expand their product line to align with the consumer demand. The company developed the EcoBoost V6 engines that provide 20% better fuel economy and reduce carbon monoxide emissions by 15% (MediaFord. com, 2011). Hybrid models are currently in production and the company plans to double their output in 2009 to meet consumer demand. Ford is investing and researching new technology to produce electric and solar powered vehicles in the near future as well as intelligent vehicles, or talking vehicles designed to help make the roads a safer place. The company’s efforts have not been in vain. The company was awarded the 2011 Best New Technology Award for their innovative rear inflatable seat belt design (Ford Motor Company, 2011). Similarly, the giant car manufacturer also became the first to earn top safety ratings worldwide for their Fiesta and Ford F-150 models (Ford Motor Company, 2011). The last opportunity that can help Ford gain global market share is the partnership with China to produce the Ford Fiesta model. Ford unveiled the Fiesta in China in 2009 and by 2010 the company sold more than 75,000 vehicles, 59% more than the previous year (MediaFord. com, 2011). The Fiesta received a warm welcome from the Chinese consumers with its stylish exterior, fuel efficiency, and even received a five-star safety rating from the China Automotive Technology and Research Center (CATARC) (MediaFord. com, 2011). With the success of the launch in China, Ford can expand worldwide and explore other opportunities in foreign countries to penetrate and grow the Ford name. Threats The last factor to consider in the analysis is the threats that hinder Fords success in the market. These factors can prevent the company from growing as planned and potentially harm the giant automaker’s financial stability. Many of the same factors listed as weaknesses can be potential threats. For example, the recession and the rise in fuel prices. As prices rise, consumers look for ways to reduce their expenses by either consuming less gas or replacing their gas guzzlers with compact fuel efficient models. If Ford fails to produce a compact, fuel efficient model that meets the consumer’s demands, the public will still purchase a vehicle but definitely not a Ford model. The rise in raw materials can also pose a threat to Ford because the company needs to provide an affordable product that meets the demand for safety, durability, and quality, all while keeping production costs at reasonable rates to make a profit. Producing vehicles with subpar materials to keep within budget can risk the safety of the end user and risk the reputation of the Ford brand. Fixing any potential issues with future recalls is usually more expensive than producing the product meeting all federal guidelines. The last major threat to the Ford Motor Company is the lack of investment in Research and Development and Quality Control. Compared to the competition, Ford falls short in capital spending, which can hinder the possibility of growth. For example, Ford’s biggest competitor, Toyota reduced their capital spending from $1. trillion to $670 billion during 2010 because of the financial crisis (Dow Jones, 2010). In comparison, Ford usually spends five to six billion dollars in capital spending each year totaling $4. 5 billion during 2010 (Ford Motor Company, 2011). With that much difference in capital spending, the competition has the means and the edge to develop the next best thing out on the market, leaving For d behind. To summarize the analysis, the Ford Motor Company has the potential to remain one of the top car manufacturers in the world if the company takes advantage of all strengths and opportunities to grow and xpand the business worldwide. The key to staying competitive is following consumer trends and above all take pride and care to produce the best product for the end-user. Keeping a close eye and managing the weaknesses and threats to the business will serve as a learning experience and help the company adapt, improve business practices, and processes. The company has been successful thus far, even through a recession, and once the economy recovers Ford has the potential to become more thriving than ever with the latest advances in technology the company plans to develop. Business Analysis Part II Ford Motor Company Financial Health Comparison The financial statements in Appendix A-C reflect the income statement, balance sheet, and cash flow for Ford Motor Company for recent and previous years. Comparing the numbers side by side helps understand the trends in the economy and the company and gives a better understanding of the company’s financial health. After reviewing each statement one can see that the company has been a successful one, and recently suffered during the time of recession. Profits went down as well as stock value as seen in Appendix D. Capital Expenditures were reduced and the company even faced negative figures in most statements during the recession in 2008. The company had a healthy cash flow and earnings in the years before 2008, and is presently recovering at a steady pace. The one major concern noted after reviewing the statements is the slow recovery of the company. With the recession out of the way, the company has enough new products and incentives to help boost sales and make profits similar to those seen in 2005-2007 at a faster pace. The slow recovery can help the company prepare for future periods of recession by having a plan implemented to develop the most innovative, quality, and affordable product for the consumer and increase demand worldwide, thus making profits at a faster pace. Summarize companys financial health – compare it to other companies in the industry Summarize the companys technological advantages – compare to others How globalization affected the businesses practices Benchmark analysis – best practices, operational processes and procedures, products or services References AOL Daily Finance. 2011, May 20). Ford motor company balance sheet. Retrieved from dailyfinance. com/financials/ford-motor-company/f/nys/balance-sheet Bloomberg Businessweek, (2011, May 24). Financial statements for ford motor company. Retrieved from http://investing. businessweek. com/research/stocks/financials/financials. asp? ticker=F:US Dow Jones, (2010, December 24). Toyota vice president: to ho ld down capital spending. Retrieved from dowjones. de/site/2010/12/toyota-vice-president-to-hold-down-capital-spending. html Ford. (2008). Market share and sales. Retrieved from http://corporate. ford. om/microsites/sustainability-report-2008-09/economy-data-market#a Ford Motor Company, (2011, May 12). Safety. Retrieved from http://corporate. ford. com/innovation/car-safety Ford Motor Company, (2011). Ford posts net income of $2. 6 billion in second quarter 2010. Retrieved from corporate. ford. com/news-center/news/press-releases/press-releases-detail/pr-ford-posts-net-income-of-26-32973 History of the Stock Market Crash, (2011, April 23). Ford stock up 757% since the 2008-2009 crash. Retrieved from worststockmarketcrashes. com/featured/ford-stock-up-757-percent-since-the-2008-2009-crash/ Isidore, C. 2001, May 21). Ford recalls 13 million tires. Retrieved from http://money. cnn. com/2001/05/22/recalls/ford/ Legal Information Center, (2001). Firestone tire recall. Retrieved from firestone-tire-recall. com/pages/overview. html Media Ford. com, (2011). Ford fiesta receives maximum 5-star safety rating in china ncap. Retrieved from http://media. ford. com/article_display. cfm? article_id=33815 Microsoft Money, Initials. (2011, April 24). Financial results ford motor company. Retrieved from http://moneycentral. msn. com/investor/invsub/results/statemnt. aspx? Symbol=FstmtView=Ann Mulally, A. (2010, October 26). Ford car share in North America on the rise. Retrieved from http://seekingalpha. com/article/232164-ford-car-share-in-north-america-on-the-rise Yahoo Finance, (2011, May 22). Ford motor company cash flow. Retrieved from http://finance. yahoo. com/q/cf? s=F+Cash+Flowannual Appendix A[pic][pic][pic] |Income Statement Comparison | |Dec 31 |Dec 31 |Dec 31 |Dec 31 | |Currency in | |2007 |2008 |2009 |2010 | |Millions of U. S. Dollars |As of: |Restated |Restated |Restated |USD | | | |USD |USD |USD | | |Revenues |154,379. 0 |127,635. 0 |103,868. 0 |119,280. 0 | |Cost of Goods Sold |142,667. 0 |120,558. 0 |98,746. |104,372. 0 | |Selling General Admin Expenses, Total |21,132. 0 |21,049. 0 |12,965. 0 |11,876. 0 | |OPERATING INCOME |-701. 0 |-6,492. 0 |-1,219. 0 |8,892. 0 | |Interest and Investment Income |1,713. 0 |928. 0 |205. 0 |262. 0 | |Income (Loss) on Equity Investments |403. |381. 0 |195. 0 |538. 0 | |EBT, EXCLUDING UNUSUAL ITEMS |-1,018. 0 |-7,151. 0 |-2,249. 0 |7,975. 0 | |Gain (Loss) on Sale of Investments |-109. 0 |-1,309. 0 |373. 0 |125. 0 | |Other Unusual Items, Total |-432. 0 |-5,569. 0 |4,666. 0 |-844. | |EBT, INCLUDING UNUSUAL ITEMS |-3,857. 0 |-14,895. 0 |2,599. 0 |7,149. 0 | |Minority Interest in Earnings |-312. 0 |58. 0 | |4. 0 | |EARNINGS FROM DISCOUNTINUED OPERATIONS |41. 0 |9. 0 |5. 0 | | |NET INCOME TO COMMON INCLUDING EXTRA ITEMS |-2,795. 0 |-14,766. 0 |2,717. 0 |6,561. | [pic][ pic][pic](Bloomberg Businessweek, 2011) Appendix B Balance Statement Comparison |Period Ending |FY2010 |FY2009 |FY2008 |FY2007 |FY2006 | |Assets | | | | | | |Net Receivables |48. 22 B |8. 15 B |64. 43 B |68. 75 B |4. 15 B | |Progress Payments Others |-865. 00 M |-798. 0 M |-891. 00 M |-1. 10 B |-1. 02 B | |Current Assets Total |90. 87 B |57. 29 B |117. 33 B |135. 72 B |78. 98 B | |Investment in Unconsolidated Subsidiaries |2. 57 B |2. 37 B |1. 59 B |2. 85 B |2. 79 B | |Property, Plant Equipment Net |23. 03 B |22. 46 B |28. 35 B |35. 98 B |35. 79 B | |Accumulated Depreciation |33. 90 B |33. 41 B |38. 4 B |36. 56 B |34. 98 B | |Tangible Other Assets |4. 16 B |12. 30 B |6. 52 B |18. 34 B |16. 00 B | |Total Assets |163. 32 B |189. 35 B |215. 77 B |276. 46 B |276. 01 B | |Income Taxes Payable |392. 00 M |3. 09 B |2. 79 B |2. 67 B |3. 14 B | |Current Liabilities Total |74. 13 B |77. 85 B |111. 96 B |110. 5 B |112. 65 B | |Provision for Risks Charges |18. 24 B |17. 76 B |17. 32 B |31. 37 B |35. 91 B | |Deferred Income |1. 62 B |1. 66 B |1. 77 B |1. 99 B |2. 04 B | |Total Liabilities |163. 97 B |197. 13 B |231. 89 B |269. 41 B |278. 31 B | |Common Equity |-673. 00 M |-7. 82 B |-17. 31 B |5. 63 B |-3. 6 B | |Capital Surplus |20. 80 B |16. 79 B |9. 08 B |7. 83 B |4. 56 B | |Equity in Untaxed Reserves |-7. 04 B |-13. 60 B |-16. 14 B |-1. 48 B |-17. 00 M | |Treasury Stock |62. 00 M |407. 00 M |521. 00 M |103. 00 M |- | |Common Shares Outstanding |163. 32 B |189. 35 B |215. 77 B |276. 46 B |276. 01 B | (AOL Daily Finance, 2011) Appendix C Cash Flow Comparison | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Period Ending | | | |Dec 31, 2010 | | | |Dec 31, 2009 | | | |Dec 31, 2008 | | | | | | | |Net Income | | | |6,561,000 | | | |2,717,000 | | | |(14,672,000) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Operating Activities, Cash Flows Provided By or Used In | | | | | | | |Depreciation | | | |- | | | |- | | | |19,737,000 | | | | | | | |Adjustments To Net Income | | | |- | | | |- | | | |1,027,000 | | | | | | | |Changes In Accounts Receivables | | | |- | | | |- | | | |1,091,000 | | | | | | | |Changes In Liabilities | | | |- | | | |- | | | |(12,647,000) | | | | | | | |Changes In Inventories | | | |- | | | |- | | | |(358,000) | | | | | | | |Changes In Other Operating Activities | | | |- | | |- | | | |2,489,000 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Total Cash Flow From Operating Activities | | | |11,477,000 | | | |15,477,000 | | | |(179,000) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Investing Activities, Cash Flows Provided By or Used In | | | | | | | |Capital Expenditures | | | |(4,092,000) | | | |(4,059,000) | | | |(6,696,000) | | | | | | | |Investments | | | |9,774,000 | | | |10,682,000 | | | |(2,676,000) | | | | | | | |Other Cash flows from Investing Activities | | | |1,226,000 | | | |(4,000) | | | |6,229,000 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Total Cash Flows From Investing Activities | | | |6,908,000 | | | |6,619,000 | | | |(3,143,000) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Financing Activities, Cash Flows Provided By or Used In | | | | | | | |Dividends Paid | | | |- | | | |- | | | |- | | | | | | | |Sale Purchase of Stock | | | |1,339,000 | | | |2,450,000 | | | |756,000 | | | | | | | |Net Borrowings | | | |(18,558,000) | | | |(21,710,000) | | | |(9,256,000) | | | | | | | |Other Cash Flows from Financing Activities | | | |(7,202,000) | | | |(3,570,000) | | | |(604,000) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Total Cash Flows From Financing Activities | | | |(24,421,000) | | | |(22,830,000) | | | |(9,104,000) | | | | | | | |Effect Of Exchange Rate Changes | | | |(53,000) | | | |454,000 | | | |(808,000) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Change In Cash and Cash Equivalents | | | |(6,089,000) | | | |(910,000) | | | |(13,234,000) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Currency in USD. | | | Appendix D Ford Motor Company Stock Value Comparison

Timeline of the Russian Revolution of 1905

Timeline of the Russian Revolution of 1905 While Russia had a revolution in 1917 (in fact two), it nearly had one in 1905. There were the same marches and vast strikes, but in 1905 the revolution was crushed in a manner that affected how things unraveled in 1917 (including a great deal of fear things would repeat and a new revolution would fail). What was the difference? World War One had not acted as a magnifying glass for problems, and the military mostly stayed loyal. January January 3-8: 120,000 workers strike in St. Petersburg; government warns against any organized marches. January 9: Bloody Sunday. 150,000 striking workers and their families march through St. Petersburg to deliver a protest to the Tsar  but are shot and ridden down on multiple occasions by the army. Reaction to the massacre spreads across neighboring regions, especially the industrial centers which experience spontaneous workers strikes. February February: The strike movement spreads down to the Caucasus. February 4: Grand-Duke Sergei Alexandrovich is killed by an SR assassin as protests grow. February 6: Notably large rural disorder, especially in Kursk. February 18: Reacting to the growing troubles, Nicholas II orders the creation of a consultative assembly to report on constitutional reform; the move is less than the revolutionaries want, but it gives them impetus. March The strike movement and unrest reaches Siberia and the Urals. April April 2: The second National Congress of Zemstvos again demands a constitutional assembly; the Union of Unions formed. May Embarrassment for the government as the Baltic Fleet is easily sunk, having spent 7 months sailing round to Japan. June June: Soldiers used against strikers in Lodz. June 18: Odessa is halted by a large strike. June 14-24: Sailors mutiny on the Battleship Potemkin. August August: Moscow holds the first Conference of the Peasants union; Nizhnii holds the First Congress of the Muslim Union, one of many groups pushing for regional - often national - autonomy. August 6: Tsar issues a manifesto on the creation of a state Duma; this plan, created by Bulygin and nicknamed the Bulygin Duma, is rejected by revolutionaries for being too weak and having a tiny electorate. August 23: Treaty of Portsmouth ends the Russo-Japanese war; Russia has been beaten by an opponent they were expected to easily defeat. September September 23: Printers strike in Moscow, the start of Russias first General Strike. October October 1905 - July 1906: The Peasant Union of the Volokolamsk District creates the independent Markovo Republic; it survives, 80 miles from Moscow, until the government crushes it in July 1906. October 6: Rail workers join the strike. October 9: As telegraph workers join the strike, Witte warns the Tsar that to save Russia he must make great reforms or impose a dictatorship. October 12: Strike action has developed into a General Strike. October 13: A council is formed to represent striking workers: the St. Petersburg Soviet of Workers Deputies; it functions as an alternative government. The Mensheviks dominate it as the Bolsheviks boycott and similar soviets are soon created in other cities. October 17: Nicholas II issues the October Manifesto, a liberal scheme proposed by Witte. It grants civil liberties, the need for Duma consent before passing laws and a widening of the Duma electorate to include all Russians; mass celebrations follow; political parties form and rebels return, but acceptance of the Manifesto pushes the liberals and socialists apart. The St. Petersburg soviet prints its first issue of the newssheet Izvestia; left and right groups clash in streetfights. October: Lvov joins the Constitutional Democrat (Kadet) party, which includes the more radical zemstvo menmen, nobles, and scholars; conservative liberals form the Octobrist Party. These are the people who have led the revolution so far. October 18: N. E. Bauman, a Bolshevik activist, is killed during a streetfight triggering a street war between the Tsar supporting right and the revolutionary left. October 19: The Council of Ministers is created, a government cabinet under Witte; leading Kadets are offered posts, but refuse. October 20: Baumans funeral is the focus of major demonstrations and violence. October 21: The General Strike is ended by the St. Petersburg Soviet. October 26-27: The Kronstadt mutiny. October 30-31: The Vladivostok Mutiny. November November 6-12: The Peasants Union holds a conference in Moscow, demanding a constituent assembly, land redistribution and political union between peasants and urban workers. November 8: The Union of Russian People is created by Dubrovin. This early fascist group aims to fight against the left and is funded by government officials. November 14: The Moscow branch of the Peasants Union is arrested by the government. November 16: Telephone/graph workers strike. November 24: Tsar introduces Provisional Rules, which at once abolish some aspects of censorship, but introduce harsher penalties for those praising criminal acts. November 26: Head of the St. Petersburg Soviet, Khrustalev-Nosar, arrested. November 27: The St. Petersburg Soviet appeals to the armed forces and elects a triumvirate to replace Nosar; it includes Trotsky. December December 3: The St. Petersburg Soviet is arrested en masse after Socialist Democrats (SD) hand out weapons. December 10-15: The Moscow Uprising, where rebels and militias try to take the city through armed struggle; it fails. No other major rebellions take place, but the Tsar and the right react: the police regime returns and the army sweeps across Russia crushing dissent. December 11: Russias urban population and workers are enfranchised by electoral changes. December: Nicholas II and his son given honorary membership of the Union of the Russian People; they accept.

Leadership Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Leadership - Essay Example The study will discuss different aspects of an effective leader. The study will cover three areas, such as role of a leader, different leadership styles, and impact of leadership style on the organizational culture and employee motivation. The Role of a Leader Effective leadership style is important for an organization or a group of several individuals to perform effectively. Role and Responsibility of a Leader The major responsibility of a leader is to organize entire team and motivate them to attain the goals and objectives. Development of attainable goals and objectives are also key responsibilities of a leader. A good leader generally shares several information and effectual experience with the sub-ordinates to accomplish a common task. Sharing experience or knowledge actually influences entire team to give full effort. One of the major responsibilities of a great leader is to implement both top-down and bottom-up approach in order to enhance organizational communication process (Daft, 2008, p.44). Knowledge and Skills Required for a Good Leader An individual cannot be called as an effective leader without effective leadership knowledge and skills. A leader has total authority to manage entire team and develop potential strategies, decisions and goals so that a team can effectively achieve those. Knowledge and skills generally differ from each other. A leader has to have some key skills, such as effective communication skills, speaking power, listening skills, memory skills and skills to motivate entire team. An individual cannot become a leader and lead a team without having these fundamental skills. In terms of knowledge, a good leader has to obtain time management knowledge. It is true that the entire member within a team cannot have similar competencies and views. Therefore, there are some possibilities of conflict of ideas and conflict of skills between the team members (Walker, 2011, p.259). A leader generally has to deal with a diverse team in a spec ific workforce. Knowledge about workplace diversity, team direction, inspiring initiatives and self-motivation process of a leader can help an organization to become successful. Role of a Leader differs from Role of a Manager The major role of a leader is to develop effective attainable and perceived goals and objectives. On the other hand, role of a manager is to administrate entire team to ensure effective workplace performance and good business output. It is true that a leader always can become an effective manager due to effective leadership skills. Generally leadership skills direct the managerial skills. But, a manager cannot become an effective leader due to lack of leadership skills and visionary power. It is quite challenging for a leader to develop goals and direct an entire team towards success. But, it is quite easy for a manager to assist and administrate a team based on the showed path of a leader to accomplish developed tasks or goals or objectives. Development and Co mmunication of

(Operations Management) Key recent developments of operations design Assignment

(Operations Management) Key recent developments of operations design and practise in airline and automotive (car ) industry - Assignment Example self many various issues and activities through which an organization’s goods and services are changed and transformed from the inputs that were put to the outputs that are produced. It is about the various operations that are performed on the goods and services from the moment their production starts to the moment the customer receives it. Operations management consists of ten areas in which an operations manager has to make the right decisions so as to fit the company’s strategic vision with what the budget allows, and to achieve that competitive advantage too, all at the same time. A strategy is the course of action that a company aims to take with respect to achieving a particular goal. Strategic fit would be when the company has very well integrated the firm’s mission as well as the strategies along with the internal capabilities that it has and the external environment that it has to survive in. thus, missions (what needs to be achieved) as well as the strategies (how it needs to be achieved) must be in alignment with what the company is capable of doing itself and how much the outside environment and externalities will allow it to perform. (Slack, 2005) As far as operations management is concerned, the operations manager has to take decisions in ten critical areas. They are product design, quality management, process design, location selection, layout design, human resources, supply chain management, inventory, scheduling and maintenance. When it comes to operations management, the operations manager has a wide variety of choices as to how to go about it. Operations management is all about increasing the productivity of the company, thus efficiency has to be present, along with effectiveness in the first place. With the rise of competition, it can be said that new methods need to be found which will keep an air cargo company going and at least give him a place in the top cargo service providers of the country. For this, many owners of the cargo