Disturbance as a Crucial Process in Shaping the Modern Landscape When the Pieces of Mosaics Fall into Their Places

Disturbance as a Crucial Process in Shaping the Modern Landscape When the Pieces of Mosaics Fall into Their Places Of all the things that surround us, landscape seems by far the most stable of all; when looking beyond the horizon, one might think that years will pass, people will come and leave, but the mountains in the distance will always remain in their places.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Disturbance as a Crucial Process in Shaping the Modern Landscape: When the Pieces of Mosaics Fall into Their Places specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More However, this stability is only an illusion; according to the research results, the process known as disturbance shapes the landscape greatly. Because of the disturbance process, the landscape, especially its forest elements, maintain relative stability and display amazing diversity. As Turner, Gardner and O’Neill explain, â€Å"A disturbance is defined as a relatively discrete event that disrupts the structure of an ecosystem, community, or population and changes resource availabilit y or the physical environment† (Turner, Gardner O’Neill, 2001, 159). Therefore, any event within the specific ecosystem that leads to the gradual change of the latter can be classified as a disturbance. There have also been attempts to define an ecosystem disturbance as tectonic movement, which actually matches the key idea of a disturbance. However, it is essential to mention that a disturbance can be triggered not only by the movement of the tectonic blocks, but also by the factors that have much faster, though just as drastic effects, e.g., hurricanes, tsunami and storms. All in all, â€Å"the definition of disturbance is scale dependent,† as Turner, Gardner O’Neill (2001, 159) put it. While the above-mentioned disturbance processes doubtlessly have huge effect on the lives of a number of organisms, as well as on the shape of the landscape, it is still important to figure out why these phenomena are considered of great significance for the landscape e cology.Advertising Looking for essay on ecology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Since disturbances do not happen often, their impact can be viewed as accidental and not quite long-lasting. Therefore, disturbances definitely deserve a better look. The existing evidence shows that disturbances play a great role in shaping landscape: â€Å"Natural disturbances and those caused by human actions can promote plant and animal diversity by influencing the composition, age, size, edge characteristics, and distribution of stands across the landscape† (Voller Harrison, 2011, 23). Judging by the given statement, the effects of disturbances are not necessarily grandeur or induced by a cataclysm. At the same time, the patterns and scale of disturbance depends on the type of the landscape greatly, which makes disturbance and landscape mutually dependent. One of the major positive aspects of disturbance, by the way, is its selectiveness; according to the research data, disturbances do not capture an entire area – instead, they seize a certain part of it, depending on their scale. Thus, the positive effect of a disturbance is provided; once a disturbance could be observed in all corners of a specific area, the species within the given area would have been extinct, and the balance between certain elements of the landscape, e.g., the young and old segments of the chosen area would have been broken. It is also noteworthy that disturbances pass relatively unnoticed in certain landscapes. On the one hand, it might seem that the disturbances on a grand scale must shape any landscape considerably; however, the specifics of certain areas make the landscapes greatly resilient to any sort of disturbance. For example, in the places like desert, where the herbage is very scarce or completely absent, fires will not have a tangible effect.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Disturbance as a Crucial Process in Shaping the Modern Landscape: When the Pieces of Mosaics Fall into Their Places specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More As Turner, Gardner and O’Neill say, â€Å"Landscape position appears to influence susceptibility to disturbance when the disturbance itself has a distinct directionality (e.g., hurricane tracks) such that some locations are usually ore exposed than the others† (Turner, Gardner O’Neill, 2001, 165). Unlike one might have thought, disturbances are not chaotic; they have their own specific patterns that can be researched and, thus, predicted with sufficient precision. Depending on the specifics of the area, the patterns of disturbances may vary. Among the most well known factors that influence the disturbance patterns the area of the patch must be named. While a smaller area soon becomes completely engulfed by a certain disturbance, larger areas do not allow a disturbance to spread further ; with many obstacles on its way, including mountains, canyons, rivers, etc., which actually make another factor, i.e., spatial distribution, a disturbance will most likely die out before it even reaches one third of the area. Finally, frequency and recurrence interval must be taken into account. While the latter means the mean time between the disturbance events and allows a specific area to renew and adapt to the changes brought on by the previous disturbance, the former is an approximate number of disturbances that happen in the given area within a certain amount of time (a year, as a rule) (Walker, 2011, 59). Generally speaking, the process of disturbance influences the landscape ecology positively and changes the landscape very slowly, which allows the latter to change so that all its elements, including the fauna, could adapt to the new environment without considerable problems.Advertising Looking for essay on ecology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More In addition, it is important to keep in mind that disturbances also characterize a landscape to a considerable extent. Literature Cited Turner, M. G., R. H. Gardner, and R. V. O’Neill, 2001. Landscape ecology in theory and practice. Springer, New York, NY. Voller, J. S. Harrison, 2011. Conservation biology principles for forested landscapes. UBC Press, Vancouver, CA. Walker, L. R., 2011. The biology of disturbed habitats. Oxford University Press, New York.

Battle of Guadalcanal in World War II

Battle of Guadalcanal in World War II Battle of Guadalcanal Conflict Date The Battle of Guadalcanal began on August 7, 1942, during World War II (1939-1945). Armies Commanders Allies Major General Alexander Vandergrift Major General Alexander Patchup to 60,000 men Japanese Lieutenant General Harukichi Hyakutake General Hitoshi Imamura rising to 36,200 men Operation Watchtower In the months after the attack on Pearl Harbor, Allied forces suffered a string of reverses as Hong Kong, Singapore, and the Philippines were lost and the Japanese swept through the Pacific. Following the propaganda victory of the Doolittle Raid, the Allies succeeded in checking the advance of the Japanese at the Battle of the Coral Sea. The following month they won a decisive victory at the  Battle of Midway which saw four Japanese carriers sunk in exchange for USS Yorktown (CV-5). Capitalizing on this triumph, the Allies began to move to the offensive in the summer of 1942. Conceived by Admiral Ernest King, Commander-in-Chief, US Fleet, Operation Watchtower called for Allied troops to land in the Solomon Islands at Tulagi, Gavutu–Tanambogo, and Guadalcanal. Such an operation would protect the Allied lines of communication to Australia and allow for the capture of a Japanese airfield then under construction at Lunga Point, Guadalcanal. To oversee the operation, the South Pacific Area was created with Vice Admiral Robert Ghormley in command and reporting to Admiral Chester Nimitz at Pearl Harbor. The ground forces for the invasion would be under the leadership of Major General Alexander A. Vandegrift, with his 1st Marine Division forming the bulk of the 16,000 troops involved. In preparation for the operation, Vandegrifts men were shifted from the United States to New Zealand and forward bases were established or reinforced in the New Hebrides and New Caledonia. Assembling near Fiji on July 26, the Watchtower force consisted of 75 ships led by Vice Admiral Frank J. Fletcher with Rear Admiral Richmond K. Turner overseeing the amphibious forces. Going Ashore Approaching the area in poor weather, the Allied fleet remained undetected by the Japanese. On August 7, the landings began with 3,000 Marines assaulting the seaplane bases at Tulagi and Gavutu-Tanambogo. Centered on Lieutenant Colonel Merritt A. Edsons 1st Marine Raider Battalion and the 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines, the Tulagi force was compelled to disembark approximately 100 yards from the beach due to submerged coral reefs.   Wading ashore against no resistance, the Marines began securing the island and engaged enemy forces led by Captain Shigetoshi Miyazaki. Though Japanese resistance was fierce on both Tulagi and Gavutu-Tanambogo, the islands were secured on August 8 and 9 respectively. The situation on Guadalcanal was different as Vandegrift landed with 11,000 men against minimal opposition. Pushing forward the next day, they advanced to the Lunga River, secured the airfield, and drove off the Japanese construction troops that were in the area. The Japanese retreated west to the Matanikau River. In their haste to retreat, they left behind large quantities of food and construction equipment. At sea, Fletchers carrier aircraft incurred losses as they battled Japanese land-based aircraft from Rabaul. These attacks also resulted in the sinking of a transport, USS George F. Elliott, and a destroyer, USS Jarvis. Concerned about aircraft losses and his ships fuel supplies, he withdrew from the area on the evening of August 8. That evening, Allied naval forces suffered a severe defeat at the nearby Battle of Savo Island. Caught by surprise,  Rear Admiral Victor Crutchley screening force lost four heavy cruisers. Unaware that Fletcher was withdrawing, the Japanese commander, Vice Admiral Gunichi Mikawa, departed the area after the victory fearing air attack once the sun rose   His air cover gone, Turner withdrew on August 9 despite the fact that not all of the troops and supplies had been landed (Map). The Battle Begins Ashore, Vandegrifts men worked to form a loose perimeter and completed the airfield on August 18. Dubbed Henderson Field in memory of Marine aviator Lofton Henderson who had been killed at Midway, it began receiving aircraft two days later. Critical to the islands defense, the aircraft at Henderson became known as the Cactus Air Force (CAF) in reference to Guadalcanals code name. Short on supplies, the Marines initially possessed about two weeks worth of food when Turner departed. Their situation was further worsened by the onset of dysentery and a variety of tropical diseases. During this time, the Marines began patrolling against the Japanese in the Matanikau Valley with mixed results. In response to the Allied landings, Lieutenant General Harukichi Hyakutake, commander of the 17th Army at Rabaul, began shifting troops to the island. The first of these, under Colonel Kiyonao Ichiki, landed at Taivu Point on August 19. Advancing west, they attacked the Marines early on August 21 and were repulsed with heavy losses at the Battle of the Tenaru. The Japanese directed additional reinforcements to the area which resulted in the Battle of the Eastern Solomons. Though the battle was a draw, it forced Rear Admiral Raizo Tanakas reinforcement convoy to turn back. As the CAF controlled the skies around the island during daylight hours, the Japanese were compelled to deliver supplies and troops to the island using destroyers. Holding Guadalcanal Fast enough to reach the island, unload, and escape before dawn, the destroyer supply line was dubbed the Tokyo Express. Though effective, this method precluded the delivery of heavy equipment and weapons. His troops suffering from tropical diseases and food shortages, Vandegrift was reinforced and re-supplied in late-August and early-September. Having built up sufficient strength, Major General Kiyotake Kawaguchi attacked the Allied position at Lunga Ridge, south of Henderson Field, on September 12. In two nights of brutal fighting, the Marines held, forcing the Japanese to retreat. On September 18, Vandegrift was further reinforced, though the carrier USS Wasp was sunk covering the convoy. An American thrust against the Matanikau was checked late in the month, but actions in early October inflicted heavy losses on the Japanese and delayed their next offensive against the Lunga perimeter. With the struggle raging, Ghormley was convinced to dispatch US Army troops to aid Vandegrift. This coincided with a large Express run scheduled for October 10/11. On that evening, the two forces collided and Rear Admiral Norman Scott won a victory at the Battle of Cape Esperance. Not to be deterred, the Japanese sent a large convoy towards the island on October 13. To provide cover, Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto dispatched two battleships to bombard Henderson Field. Arriving after midnight on October 14, they succeeded in destroying 48 of CAFs 90 aircraft. Replacements were quickly flown to the island and CAF began attacks on the convoy that day but to no effect. Reaching Tassafaronga on the islands western shore, the convoy began unloading the next day. Returning, CAF aircraft were more successful, destroying three cargo ships. Despite their efforts, 4,500 Japanese troops landed. The Battle Grinds On Reinforced, Hyakutake had around 20,000 men on Guadalcanal. He believed Allied strength to be around 10,000 (it was actually 23,000) and moved forward with another offensive. Moving east, his men assaulted the Lunga Perimeter for three days between October 23-26. Dubbed the Battle of Henderson Field, his attacks were thrown back with massive losses numbering 2,200-3,000 killed against less than 100 Americans. As the fighting was concluding, American naval forces now led by Vice Admiral William Bull Halsey (Ghormley was relieved on October 18) engaged the Japanese at the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands. Though Halsey lost the carrier USS Hornet, his men inflicted severe losses on the Japanese aircrews. The fight marked the last time that either sides carriers would clash in the campaign. Exploiting the victory at Henderson Field, Vandegrift began an offensive across the Matanikau. Though initially successful, it was halted when Japanese forces were discovered to the east near Koli Point. In a series of battles around Koli in early November, American forces defeated and drove off the Japanese. As this action was underway, two companies of the 2nd Marine Raider Battalion under Lieutenant Colonel Evans Carlson landed at Aola Bay on November 4. The next day, Carlson was ordered to move overland back to Lunga (approx. 40 miles) and engage enemy forces along the way. During the Long Patrol, his men killed around 500 Japanese. At Matanikau, Tokyo Express runs aided Hyakutake in strengthening his position and turning back American attacks on November 10 and 18. Victory at Last As a stalemate ensued on land, the Japanese made efforts to build up strength for an offensive in late November. To aid in this, Yamamoto made available eleven transports for Tanaka to transport 7,000 men to the island. This convoy would be covered by a force including two battleships which would bombard Henderson Field and destroy the CAF. Aware that the Japanese were moving troops to the island, the Allies planned a similar move. On the night of November 12/13, the Allied covering force encountered the Japanese battleships in the opening actions of the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal. Taking off on November 14, CAF and aircraft from USS Enterprise spotted and sunk seven of Tanakas transports. Though taking heavy losses the first night, American warships turned the tide on the night of November 14/15. Tanakas remaining four transports beached themselves at Tassafaronga before dawn, but were quickly destroyed by Allied aircraft. The failure to reinforce the island led to the abandonment of the November offensive. On November 26, Lieutenant General Hitoshi Imamura took command of the newly created Eighth Area Army at Rabaul which included Hyakutakes command. Though he initially began planning for attacks at Lunga, the Allied offensive against Buna on New Guinea led to a shift in priorities as it presented a greater threat to Rabaul. As result, offensive operations on Guadalcanal were suspended. Though the Japanese won a naval victory at Tassafaronga on November 30, the supply situation on the island was becoming desperate. On December 12, the Imperial Japanese Navy recommended that the island be abandoned. The army concurred and on December 31 the Emperor endorsed the decision. As the Japanese planned their withdraw, changes occurred on Guadalcanal with Vandegrift and the battle weary 1st Marine Division departing and Major General Alexander Patchs XIV Corps taking over. On December 18, Patch began an offensive against Mount Austen. This stalled on January 4, 1943 due to strong enemy defenses. The attack was renewed on January 10 with troops also striking ridges known as the Seahorse and the Galloping Horse. By January 23, all objectives had been secured. As this fight was concluding, the Japanese had begun their evacuation which was dubbed Operation Ke. Unsure of Japanese intentions, Halsey sent Patch reinforcements which led to the naval Battle of Rennell Island on January 29/30. Concerned about a Japanese offensive, Patch did not aggressively pursue the retreating enemy. By February 7, Operation Ke was complete with 10,652 Japanese soldiers having left the island. Realizing the enemy had departed, Patch declared the island secured on February 9. Aftermath During the campaign to take Guadalcanal, the Allied losses numbered around 7,100 men, 29 ships, and 615 aircraft. Japanese casualties were approximately 31,000 killed, 1,000 captured, 38 ships, and 683-880 aircraft. With the victory at Guadalcanal, the strategic initiative passed to the Allies for the remainder of the war. The island was subsequently developed into a major base for supporting future Allied offensives. Having exhausted themselves in the campaign for the island, the Japanese had weakened themselves elsewhere which contributed to the successful conclusion of Allied campaigns on New Guinea. The first sustained Allied campaign in the Pacific, it provided a psychological boost for the troops as well as led to the development of combat and logistical systems that would be used in the Allies march across the Pacific. With the island secured, operations continued on New Guinea and the Allies began their island hopping campaign towards Japan.

Long-Term Care Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Long-Term Care - Essay Example The aging of America has helped to bring the issue of the state of long-term care system in the limelight. It was in 1988 when Presidential candidates talked in their debates for the elections while Congress first tried decisively to cobble a national policy on long-term care by introducing four major bills on long-term care financing (Kuchler 1). However, while America is aging, life expectancy has also lengthened so that more and more older people are joining the ranks of senior citizens - consequently, expanding the ranks of those who will face disability in the near future. In the past, the policy was geared towards institutional care, mostly nursing homes and residential care facilities, but now efforts are being done towards more a home-based or community-based care due to the wishes of the families of patients. Another socio-cultural force that has brought the long-term care system to its current state is the role played by informal caregivers, especially women. Women and relatives of the elderly and the disabled have traditionally been assigned the task of being the caregivers of the family. As a result of higher educational attainments, rising divorce rates, and more opportunities for women in the labor force, the long-term care system has been faced with the issue of dearth of informal caregivers. ... The shortage of care-giving professionals will continue to affect the state of the long-term care system in the future. Long-term care financing as well as delivery has been tasked as a matter of policy to Medicare and Medicaid, with the former including long-term care service only as an adjunct in case of acute illness for people with disabilities and the latter, as the institutional source of long-term care funding for very economically hard-up people. The policy has been criticized for failing to provide support for people who need long-term care service. Medicaid only could be relied on to provide long-term care when their financial resources have dried up and thus, "the system is excessively harsh" (Feder, Komisar and Niefeld 54). Partly the result of the inadequacy of the coverage of long-term care financing, most people especially from the middle classes rely on out-of-pocket expenses to pay for long-term care. It is estimated in one study that 20% of older people will spend US$25,000 from their own pockets to fund future long-term care needs (Johnson, Toohey and Wiener 2). There are continuin g policy debates on how to integrate Medicare and Medicaid and how these debates will fare in the coming years and thus shape whether the long-term care system will be up to the challenge of providing better services and financially viable options for the country. As the age group called the baby boomers or those who were born between 1946 and 1964 reach retirement age and who currently comprise more than a fourth of the American population, some have sounded alarms that this phenomenon is a healthcare crisis in the making (Achison n.p.). When this age group will become part of the population that will stop paying taxes that fund Medicare and would be

Unilever international finance and accounting Essay

Unilever international finance and accounting - Essay Example Unilever, United Kingdom, has just dropped Boursin as one of its business entities.Unilever ia a global business focusing on personal care, food and other consumer products. It has entrenched itself in the home as one of the trusted and reliable but reasonably priced products in the market today.Unilever has always been a staunch follower of all social responsibility laws. The social responsibility laws focus on many issues (Sluyterman 2005, 12).Further, one such issue is the payment of minimum salaries to its workers. Another such issue is the implementation of work conditions where environmental laws are taken into consideration. Another issue of social responsibility it the company's role of uplifting the lives of people in its community, the customers of Unilever and the world as a whole. In this regard, companies like Unilever are required to produce products that are not harmful to the customers and the environment (Dingman 2008). Unilever is an institution today because it had gone through many years of trials and errors with the aim of making profits without sacrificing its social responsibility to the community and other stakeholders. The following paragraphs explain Unilever's important place in the business world in terms of making profits, divestment of segments and its social responsibility.Unilever (United Kingdom) is one of the country units of Unilever world. The company has been producing popular household brands that are needed by homes, offices and work places around the United Kingdom alone. The company is an institution in the field of food, home and personal care products. Unilever (United Kingdom) has under its big belt over thirty five brands that include Cornetto, Bertolli, Cif, and Sunsilk. In the area of highest country revenue, the United Kingdom is next only to the United States. The company has started smoothly the rough working conditions in order to streamline its operations. One such financially correct move was to cut its manag erial positions by half during the year. Reference: www.finance.google.com/financecid=5763516 Further, the company has also innovated its company -wide sales and marketing operational strategy. The company has reduced operating expense in its United Kingdom branch by relocating its three departments to one single location. This financially rewarding move is currently the right time for the company continue its retrenchment of more than three hundred twenty line and staff employees until the year 2009. Its office is located in St. James Road, Kingston -Upon-Thames, KTI 2BA, GBR. Reference: www.finance.google.com/financecid=5763516 Unilever company is a financially stable company. The Income statement of Unilever UK for the year 2006 shows that the company generated in billions of pounds of revenues to the tue of 26,714. This shows a two percent decrease from the prior year revenues. The 2005 revenues generated 27,304.4.This represented a decrease of four percent over the prior year revenues. The 2004 revenues generated only 28,584.1. The 2006 cost of sales amounted to 13,540.3. This shows a four percent decline over the cost of goods sold of the prior year. The prior year cost of goods sold is 14,037.6. This is definitely two percent lower than the prior year cost of sales. The prior year sales amounted to 14,309.8. The company also generated gross profit of 13,173.7 for the year 2006. This is a seven percent decrease from the prior year gross profit. The prior year gross profit only reached of 14,274.4. Also, the gross profit ratio for the year 2006 is high at forty nine percent (13,171.7 /26,714). The gross profit ratio for the year 2005 is lower than the 2006 data at forty eight ;/100 percent (13,266.8 /27,304.4). The gross profit ratio for the year 2004 is high at fifty percent (14,274.43,171.7 /28,584.1). The company's operating income for the year 2006

Random Essays :: essays research papers

31) After the attack on Pearl Harbor, the feelings of animosity in America against Japan increased. By late 1945, the Allied leaders met in Germany with news of a secret new weapon, called the atomic bomb, created by American scientists, that was powerful enough to destroy an entire city. However, there were some feelings that the bomb was too powerful, and the leaders chose instead to send the Potsdam Declaration to Japan warning them to surrender. The Japanese military did not know about the atomic bomb and ignored the warning, so on August 6th 1945, an American bomber called the Enola Gay was dropped on Hiroshima, Japan. This blast killed an approximated 70,000 people and destroyed more than eighty percent of the city, but the Japanese still did not surrender. The US dropped a second atomic bomb, and after a furious debate in the Japanese cabinet, the emperor of Japan announced a surrender. This day on the 14th of August became known as V-J Day, for Victory over Japan. 32) a & b) The approach to bring discrimination cases before the courts that I would have disagreed with most would have been using violence to gain attention. This approach only caused an uproar that required law enforcement and resulted in injuries of many people. Although it did bring attention, it brought the wrong sort of attention that they were seeking. The courts possibly would have been less eager to see their cases after acts of violence, since it only demonstrated rebellion. 33) a & b) President Lyndon Johnson proposed the development of a plan called the Great Society, which was a plan with an ambitious goal to improve the standard of living of every American. One of these important Great Society programs was Medicare. This plan helped to pay the hospital bills of citizens over the age of 65. Similar to this program, Medicaid gave states money to help poor people of all ages with medical bills. Along with this, he fought to help Americans who lived below the poverty line. The Economic Opportunity Act was passed in 1964 to set up job-training programs for the poor. It also gave loans to businesses poor sections of the cities and offered loans to poor farmers. 34) Among the recent advances in science and technology, the development of computers has become a part of everyday life in American culture. Random Essays :: essays research papers 31) After the attack on Pearl Harbor, the feelings of animosity in America against Japan increased. By late 1945, the Allied leaders met in Germany with news of a secret new weapon, called the atomic bomb, created by American scientists, that was powerful enough to destroy an entire city. However, there were some feelings that the bomb was too powerful, and the leaders chose instead to send the Potsdam Declaration to Japan warning them to surrender. The Japanese military did not know about the atomic bomb and ignored the warning, so on August 6th 1945, an American bomber called the Enola Gay was dropped on Hiroshima, Japan. This blast killed an approximated 70,000 people and destroyed more than eighty percent of the city, but the Japanese still did not surrender. The US dropped a second atomic bomb, and after a furious debate in the Japanese cabinet, the emperor of Japan announced a surrender. This day on the 14th of August became known as V-J Day, for Victory over Japan. 32) a & b) The approach to bring discrimination cases before the courts that I would have disagreed with most would have been using violence to gain attention. This approach only caused an uproar that required law enforcement and resulted in injuries of many people. Although it did bring attention, it brought the wrong sort of attention that they were seeking. The courts possibly would have been less eager to see their cases after acts of violence, since it only demonstrated rebellion. 33) a & b) President Lyndon Johnson proposed the development of a plan called the Great Society, which was a plan with an ambitious goal to improve the standard of living of every American. One of these important Great Society programs was Medicare. This plan helped to pay the hospital bills of citizens over the age of 65. Similar to this program, Medicaid gave states money to help poor people of all ages with medical bills. Along with this, he fought to help Americans who lived below the poverty line. The Economic Opportunity Act was passed in 1964 to set up job-training programs for the poor. It also gave loans to businesses poor sections of the cities and offered loans to poor farmers. 34) Among the recent advances in science and technology, the development of computers has become a part of everyday life in American culture.

Egalitarian Companies Are More Innovative

Discuss the pros and cons of the following statement: â€Å"Egalitarian companies are more innovative. † An egalitarian company exists with equal human rights for all employees, regardless of social economic income, race, origin, gender, religious or political beliefs. Most people view egalitarian as fair as it creates a friendly working environment. an egalitarian work environment doesn’t depend on job descriptions and traditional management roles. This allows employees to function as a more inclusive work force. it promoted shared responsibilities among workers and promotes team work. An egalitarian work environment doesn’t depend on job description and traditional management roles to define employees and structure workforce. This allows employees in a company to exist without hierarchies and function as more inclusive workforce. Employees may feel more appreciated and contribute ideas to the company’s growth and overall direction and operational strategies. Pros. In organizations, hierarchy is more than just a human predisposition, it’s a practical necessity. The purpose of an organization is to mobilize diverse talents and abilities in order to produce goods and services. In the modern world, we have technology to multiply this output. We need to divide up tasks, match them with the right people (since not all people have equal skills), and then integrate them for customers. Somebody has to provide the direction to make this happen effectively at every stage and level. This is where the role of the supervisor, manager, team leader, or executive comes in. Without this guidance and decision function, we would have disorganization. There are many, companies that have long shown success through their structure. In certain market environments there need strict adherence to standards, requirements, policies, etc. ierarchies can help ensure top quality is always present. ie health facilities. Additionally, utilizing specialists or experts inside an organization or network, is natural. Not everyone can do everything. Boundaries can be more permeable so that people can share information, resources, and ideas to make the whole enterprise more successful. Making this happen is never easy, but it can’t be done at all without leaders who have the authority to break the ties between groups and individuals who have different visions of what should be done. There is no better way to do this than through traditional hierarchy. Along with that, it may not be cost, time or quality abiding to let everyone roam free without direction. The right blend and balance for any one particular organization will depend on the pace of change in the industry, the capabilities of the employees, and the resources available to take action. The need for leadership will always exist. There will always be a need for visionaries, people who can influence others, and people who can execute. Cons. While hierarchies were the favored form of organizing in the past, they should not be the key design in business. Hierarchies, characterized by tight controls, centralized decision-making, and clear-cut job descriptions, often alienate employees and promote an individualistic work mentality. Traditional management systems are increasingly a vanishing breed, no longer valuable or relevant in today’s increasingly human-capital-centric workplace. The lack of job descriptions, flatter organizations, and flexible approach would likely fit better for organizational environments that are new, immature, or very rapidly evolving. With a lightning fast pace of change, constraining job descriptions may hold individuals back from taking action. Leadership is vital in driving forward principles that can be acted upon. With visionary approaches that allow for empowered action, many great things can be achieved. Identify three organizations that you perceive as being innovative. Organization innovation is the successful implementation of creative ideas in an organization. The three organizations that I perceive as being innovative are; Facebook, Apple and Microsoft. All three companies have managed to be creative and sustain a competitive advantage. They have also maintained quality and form of their service and product overtime. Identify the innovation and its impact upon each organization. Facebook innovation has attracted billions of members to their site. They have a continuing innovation of interactive face book communication that has created patterns of innovation overtime. Facebook has created a market competitive advantage. Facebook has used distinctive competitiveness to sustain its innovation and avoid duplication by competitors. Face book have maintained an incremental change by having their members sign in for free and also by improving the Facebook performance as a dominant website. Facebook is a social networking service and website. As of January 2012, Facebook had more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as friends, and exchange messages, including automatic notifications when they update their profile. Additionally, users may join common-interest user groups, organized by workplace, school or college, or other characteristics, and categorize their friends into lists such as â€Å"People from Work† or â€Å"Close Friends†. Face book innovation as attracted 7 billion user’s worldwide. It has also launched a Spanish version. Apple, one of the greatest innovators continue to launch new technology i. e. IPhones, iPods. Etc. over time Apple continues to create newer sustainable technology. Apple Inc. together with subsidiaries offers designs, manufactures, and markets mobile communication and media devices, personal computers, and portable digital music players; and sells related software, services, peripherals, networking solutions, and third-party digital content worldwide. Its products and services include iPhone, iPad, Mac, iPod, Apple TV, the iOS and Mac OS X operating systems, iCloud, and various accessory and support offerings, as well as a range of consumer and professional software applications. As of September 24, 2011, the company had 357 retail stores, including 245 stores in the United States and 112 stores internationally. Apple Inc. was founded in 1976 and is headquartered in Cupertino, California. Microsoft Corporation develops, licenses, and supports a range of software products and services for various computing devices worldwide. The company’s Windows & Windows Live Division segment offers PC operating system that primarily includes Windows 7 and Windows Vista operating systems; Windows live suite of applications and Web services; and Microsoft PC hardware products. Its Microsoft’s Server and Tools segment provides Windows Server operating systems, Windows Azure, Microsoft SQL Server, SQL Azure, Windows Intune, Windows Embedded, Visual Studio, Silverlight, system center products, Microsoft consulting services, and product support services. This segment also offers enterprise consulting services; and training and certification to developers and information technology professionals, as well as builds standalone and software development lifecycle tools for software architects, developers, testers, and project managers. The company provides online information and content through Bing, MSN portals, and adCenter, as well as Atlas online tools for advertisers. Its Microsoft Business Division segment offers Microsoft office; Microsoft Exchange; Microsoft SharePoint; Microsoft Lync; Microsoft Dynamics ERP and CRM; and Microsoft Office Web Apps, as well as office 365, n online service, offering Microsoft Office, Exchange, SharePoint, and Lync. The company’s has created great inovative Entertainment and Devices Division segment provides Xbox 360 entertainment platform, which includes the Xbox 360 gaming and entertainment console, Kinect for Xbox 360, Xbox 360 video games, Xbox LIVE, and Xbox 360 accessories; Mediaroom, an Internet protocol television software; and Windows Phone that provide Microsoft Office and Xbox LIVE functionality. It markets and distributes its products and services through original equipment manufacturers, distributors, and resellers, as well as through online. Microsoft was founded in 1975 and is headquartered in Redmond, Washington. (www. mocrosoft. com) William Chuck,(management) 2010 Custom Edition.

What Are Restrictive and Nonrestrictive Adjective Clauses

An adjective clause functions almost exactly like a solo adjective, to modify a noun. Adjectival clauses  are dependent clauses, and usually begin with a relative pronoun (which, that, who, whom  or whose) or a relative adverb (where, when, and why).   There are two main types of  adjectival  clauses: nonrestrictive and restrictive. Heres a little bit about how to distinguish between the two.   Nonrestrictive Adjective Clauses An adjective clause set off from the main clause by commas is said to be nonrestrictive. Heres an example: Old Professor Legree, who dresses like a teenager, is going through his second childhood. This who clause is nonrestrictive because the information in the clause doesnt restrict or limit the noun it modifies ( Old Professor Legree). The commas signify that the adjective clause provides added, not essential, information. Restrictive Adjective Clauses On the other hand, an adjective clause that is restrictive should not be set off by commas. An older person who dresses like a teenager is often an object of ridicule. Here, the adjective clause restricts or limits the meaning of the noun it modifies ( An older person). A restrictive adjective clause is not set off by commas. So to review, here are the basic rules. An adjective clause that can be omitted from a sentence without affecting the basic meaning of the sentence should be set off by commas and is nonrestrictive. An adjective clause that cannot be omitted from a sentence without affecting the basic meaning of the sentence should not be set off by commas and is restrictive Practice Identifying Restrictive and Nonrestrictive Clauses For each sentence below, decide if the adjective clause (in bold) is restrictive or nonrestrictive. When youre done, check your answers at the bottom of the page. Students who have young children are invited to use the free daycare center.I left my son at the campus daycare center, which is free to all full-time students.John Wayne, who appeared in over 200 movies, was the biggest box-office attraction of his time.I refuse to live in any house that Jack built.Merdine, who was born in a boxcar somewhere in Arkansas, grows homesick every time she hears the wail of a train whistle.My new running shoes, which cost more than a hundred dollars, fell apart during the marathon.I lent some money to Earl, whose house was destroyed in the flood.The thing that impresses me the most about America is the way parents obey their children.A physician who smokes and overeats has no right to criticize the personal habits of his patients.The beer that made Milwaukee famous has made a loser out of me. Answers RestrictiveNonrestrictiveNonrestrictiveRestrictiveNonrestrictiveNonrestrictiveNonrestrictiveRestrictiveRestrictiveRestrictive