Innovation and Change Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words - 1

Innovation and Change - Assignment Example Analoui and Karami (2003, p. 25) defined SMEs as one that has only a small share of its concerned market and is managed in a personalized way by its owner or part-owner, but not through a medium of an elaborate management system. SMEs are not sufficiently large to get access to the capital market for publically issuing of securities.   Researchers used different constructs such as annual sales, number of employees, value added, value of assets, annual profits etc to define and explain SMEs. Out of these constructs, number of employees and annual sales are most often used to delimit the category of SMEs. For most researchers, a small to medium sized firm is one that employs no more than 250 persons and is having annual sales of not more than  £50 million (Analoui and Karami, 2003, p. 26).   According to OECD, SMEs are non-subsidiary and independent firms that employ less than a given number of people. The most frequent upper limit to categorize a SME is 250 employees (OECD, 2000 , p. 7). The Small Business Administration in the United States has fixed certain criteria to delimit the size of a SMEs. According to these criteria, SMEs are those that employ less than 500 people, although it may be as high as 1500 in some circumstances (Akcay and Soylemez, 2009, p. 215). Importance of SMEs to the economy  SMEs play significant role in the economy mainly because they represent a vast majority of all the firms in many economies in terms of absolute numbers. As Bhaird (2010, p. 2) noted, more than 99 percent of enterprises in the US.

Kant Moral Ethics Essay Example for Free

Kant Moral Ethics Essay Immanuel Kants moral theory can be best explained by comparing it to a math equation. Kants moral system will always hold true no matter what the circumstance just like how two plus two will always equal four. According to Kant, our lives should be lived according to maxims that can be willed into universal law (Kant, Fundamental Principles of the Metaphysic of Morals, p 303). However the action regarding a moral decision is not judged by the consequences of that action, rather by the motive of that action. Kants the method of moral reasoning starts off by first realizing the principle the rational agent is acting under. To fully understand what this means, a rational agent is to be defined as an entity who is capable of making rational decisions regardless of their natural inclinations. This condition excludes such examples as, animals, infants, and people in a coma from being considered to be a rational agent because they do not show the capacity to reason. After realizing the principle the person is acting under, determine if the reason is morally right. In order to determine if the maxim is ethical and able to be willed into universal law, it must pass three tests: autonomy, respect for humanity, and the kingdom of ends. Autonomy describes the feeling of accomplishment. This can be illustrated as a man who promises his wife that he will take off the weekend from golfing and file their tax reports. By keeping his promise to his wife he not only feels the satisfaction from finishing their tax report but also, more importantly feels good about following through with his promise. Autonomy is important because if the husband breaks his promises and lives his life as a promise breaker then this maxim is clearly self-defeating. The entire maxim of promising to break promises does not pass the test of autonomy therefore could never be passed as a universal law. However, if after passing the autonomy test, then a principle must also respect everyone elses autonomy. In order to respect humanity, make decisions that show an overall concern for rational agents. If by treating them as a rational agent, then the principle will not affect another persons ability rationalize. In order to do this, it is never acceptable to treat a rational being as merely a means (Kant, Fundamental Principles of the Metaphysic of Morals, p 307). That is to say, the act of rape treats the rational agent as a means to sexual gratification. The act of rape does not respect the agent as a rational being and could never be willed into a moral universal law. However if a principle was able to pass the first two conditions, then it is necessary to subject it to the kingdom of ends test. The kingdom of ends is composed of a group of rational agents all with different objectives in life. The importance of having different objectives in life insures that all perspectives and backgrounds have been covered. These agents have been given the responsibility of creating a free society. A free society entails laws that every rational agent in that society would agree upon. If the principle is not a measure that the kingdom of ends would enact, then the principle, by Kants definition, is immoral. Let us analyze the principle of apathy. Living an apathetic life does indeed pass the test of autonomy and by showing indifference to other rational agents it also passes the test of humanity. However, apathy would not pass the kingdom of ends, as no rational being would accept such a maxim. As a result, an apathetic life could not be passed as universal law. As an example, we will refer back to the persecution of Jews during World War II. Say a man is hiding a Jew in his house and the Gestapo comes knocking on door. However, as the Gestapo questions the man of the whereabouts of the Jew, the man cannot lie and say that no one is hiding within his house, but at the same time, if he were to tell the truth he would be indirectly bringing harm upon himself and the Jew. The man should question the Gestapo about what they plan on doing to the Jew once they have located him. According to Kant, consequences have no relevance, although if all possible consequences were known, then it would be permissible to lightly take them into account. Since telling the truth by giving the Gestapo the whereabouts of the Jew would bring direct harm, it is permissible to lie. The maxim would be to never lie unless the truth results direct or indirect harm. This maxim respects autonomy and human nature and would be pass the kingdom of ends test and thus can be willed into universal moral law. Now take the case of Harry and Sally, according to Kantian moral reasoning, should Sally seduce Harry? If Sally were to seduce Harry by taking him back to her place and having sex with him, she would be using him as a means to her ends. By Sally using Harry simply as a means to achieve her ends, that moral decision is breaking a fundamental Kantian principle. Using people as only a means is never acceptable. The difference between Sally seducing Harry into sex and Sally having consensual sex with Harry is the difference of deception and coercion. According to Mappes, deception and coercion are the methods for sexually using someone (Mappes, Sexual Morality, p. 166). The whole idea is based off the respect for an individual person to voluntarily make their own decisions. By deceiving someone, it is clearly misleading a person to make a decision that they would not have made, had it been on their own regard. However the objection can be made that Sally should do what ultimately brings her pleasure. Using Utilitarian morality, something that results in the greater pleasure, or avoidance of harm, of the populations involved is morally correct. Even though Harry is somewhat apprehensive of the whole casual sex idea, he is not defiant or strongly against it. It can even be reasoned that Harry might even enjoy himself once him and Sally are having sex. And also, casual sex is perfectly okay if there is no lying, deceiving, or exploiting (Elliston, In Defense of Promiscuity, p. 170). I believe Ellistons definition of deceiving is different that Kants definition. Kant covers all and any type of deception as immoral. Elliston agrees that deception is indeed immoral, but his definition of deception would be a man telling a woman he does not have herpes when indeed he does. As long as sex is consensual, there is no harm. Sally would only be seducing Harry back to her house under, say, the premise to watch a movie, however when the actual act of intercourse happens, Harry is not being deceived at all. Even with the arguments above, Sally would ultimately be using Harry simply as a means to achieve her ends of sexual pleasure. By using Kantian morality, Sally should not pressure Harry to going home with her nor should she try to seduce him. Kant reasons that human beings have been given this gift of free will to act as the dividing line between humans and animals. Animals are considered animals because they lack the ability to rationalize. What then, is the ultimate value and purpose of having a free will? If the point of having a free will was to seek pleasure and avoid harm, then we are nothing more than animals and have wasted this ability to reason. Instead, humans have free will so they could follow moral law. Therefore, follow moral law even in situations where social laws or natural inclinations could conflict. By following Kants moral reasoning, what we do in our lives is right not only because we ourselves believe it to be right but also since we have willed it to become universal law, it could not possibly be wrong. The maxims that we base our lives on are intrinsically good because we are able to will it into universal law. Therefore, moral decisions made using Kants ideas can be applied universally. Kants ideas show respect for humanity and peoples decisions are not made for selfish pleasure seeking reasons by treating people as a means, but rather they are made based on universal morals and by treating everybody as an rational agent. By following Kants moral reasoning a rational agent will be able to make the right decision when faced with any type of moral dilemma.

The issues faced by Greyhound Lines

The issues faced by Greyhound Lines Greyhound Lines, Inc. is the one and only countrywide contributor of intercity bus service in the United States. Its task force of 2,400 buses brings further than 22.5 million travelers every year in excess of a road system that lengthen for further than 75,000 miles. Greyhound schedule to further than 2,600 destinations, with 18,000 on a daily basis leaving. Additionally to its programmed traveler services, the corporation suggests charter bus service, express package service in the course of Greyhound Package Express, and food service at a number of its workstation. Greyhound is also caught up in cross-border bus service throughout joint ventures with Mexican transportation businesses. The bus company that develops into Greyhound was created in 1913 by Carl Earl Wickman. The secret to Wickmans early on achievement was making best use of ridership, which took the appearance of padding 18 miners into a seven-passenger Hupmobile. Wickmans revenues start on to boost, and he took on bus iness buddies who lend a hand for him in supply funds in bigger bus SUMMARY Greyhound Lines is the nations largest bus company. However, they face a big problem when they start to introduce computerization system in the business. The problem became a major problem to their company because they took the wrong part in making decision just to increase profit and customer service. The top level manager face financial problems by introducing computerize system in their business without taking into the middle level managers opinion. Greyhound was facing non-programmed decision problem where the top level managers take a precise solution for an exceptional problem. The software called Trips software. There were problems such as the customers dont have credit card or telephone to make use of Trip software. Furthermore, the software sometimes not working and it take time to print the ticket out, this make the customer frustrated for waiting in line for so long. Was the decision facing Greyhound executives programmed or non-programmed? Programmed decision means resolution previously obtainable from earlier period knowledge to resolve troubles that are well-known, clear-cut, and obvious with value to information requirements. These judgments relate finest to problems that are subject of custom, even though it is not unsurprising but they can predict. However, non-programmed decision means relate precise way out ability for an only one of its kind problem. the majority problems handle by advanced rank manager are of this kind, with the problems frequently concerning alternative of tactic and purpose in situation of some doubt. Therefore, Greyhound is facing non-programmed decision. There are three type of non-programmed decision such as re-organization, computerization, and improve customer services. Firstly, re-organization means a renovation of a company business, as well as a obvious transform in resources formation, over and over again subsequent a disappointment and receivership or liquidation trusteeship. Greyhound Lines face re-organization when they introduced computerize system in their business. Some of their customers dont know how to use a credit card or telephone to call to book a ticket for them. This have cause the operators receive many calls from their customer about they dont know how to use the software and they cant get access to the Trip software. Secondly, computerization is a factor of non-programmed. Computerization means to control, perform, process, or store (a system, operation, or information) by means of or in an electronic computer or computers. The customer cant access to the software so they customer directly come to the ticket selling place to buy the ticket. However, when the customers try to buy the ticket, they have to wait for 5 minute and 45 second to the computer to process and print the ticket. These causes the number of customer wait to buy ticket decrease because they feel angry to wait for so long to buy a ticket. Thirdly, Greyhound also has to improve customer service to solve the problem that the company is facing now. Customer services means expanding our thinking about customer service; if were going to consistently exceed customers expectations, we have to recognize that every aspect of our business has an impact on customer service, not just those aspects of our business that involve face-to-face customer contact. Greyhound has been overwhelmed by plentiful customer criticism, as well as constantly not on time buses, impolite employees, unhygienic services, insecure environment, mechanical breakdown and accidents. Buses have been recognized to get there quite a lot of hours after their programmed arrival time and employees have been unconcerned and even orally insulting of passengers who ask over for assist. This is one of the reason that the top level decide to introduce computerize system. In conclusion, There are three type of non-programmed decision such as re-organization, computerization, and improve customer services. Greyhound can learn from the experiences of others to solve this problem. Two very common mistakes company make when breakdown organizational change are they try to manage on their own and they fall short to advantage from the knowledge of others. Thousands of bus organizations maybe have faced circumstances similar to Greyhound. So they can try to have a discussion to these knowledgeable people. Pick their intelligence. Discover out what other people in Parallel Corporation are responsible to deal with downsizings or development. They also can study books and articles about these problems. QUESTION 2 Do you think Greyhound should have used the classical, administrative, or political model to make decision? Which do you believe it used? Discuss. Provide examples to justify your answer. The classical management approaches focal point on budding general standard for applies in a variety of organization circumstances. However, administrative management approaches means center of attention on human being requirements, the work group and the position of community feature in the place of work. In the other hand, political management approaches means focus on put into operation mathematical method for administration of crisis solving. Greyhound uses classical model then the other two models. There are three types of classical approaches such as scientific management, administrative principle, and bureaucratic organization. Firstly, scientific management means highlight cautious selection and training of workers, and decision-making support. This management is found by Frederick Taylor and Frank and Lilian Gilbreth. There four guiding action principles that Greyhound have used to improve their business. First of all, develop for each job a science that contain regulations of movement, consistent work progression and appropriate working circumstance, then they have to choose workers with the exact skill for the occupation, cautiously coach workers to do the job and offer them the suitable encouragement to work together with the job science, and maintain workers by carefully scheduling their job and by level the method as they go regarding their jobs. Greyhound should plan properly for the employees to what have to be done in specific given time. Greyhound should make the employees feel like home in their working place so that the employees do the work in time. Secondly, administrative principle is based on effort to file and be aware of the skill of victorious managers. This principle developed by Henry Fayol and Mary Parker Follet. There five important point in this principle. First of all, Greyhound have to foresight which means they have to complete a plan of action for the expectations where they should have plan A and plan B so that if one plan fail then they can go for the second plan. Then, Greyhound has to offer and assemble resources to implement the plan. So Greyhound has to be preparing in financial way and equity way to achieve their future plan. Furthermore, Greyhound has to control to guide, decide on, and appraise workers to get the most excellent work towards the plan for example employees is one of the most important source that going make these idea into reality so Greyhound has to very careful in choosing their employees so that Greyhound can move into future plan then just sit around worrying about employees attitudes t o customers. Moreover, coordination and control can make sure the work goes according to the plan. Thirdly, bureaucratic organization is a balanced and well-organized structure of organization establish on common sense, regulate and lawful power. There are five factors in bureaucratic such as clear division of labor, clear hierarchy of authority, formal rules and procedures, impersonality, and career based on merit. Greyhound have to define very clearly what the employees have to do then the worker have to report to higher level people after that the higher level people have to a report of the work. If the employees follow the rules and regulation properly and did their work then the managers have to reward the employees to boost the employees to do better than now. In conclusion, Greyhound has to plan properly, if they want to invent computerization in the company. Employees is one of the most important people in making the company success internal so Greyhound have to give time to for the employees to celebrate their accomplishments. Futhermore, there are Christmas festivity in December to do party and the yearly corporation picnic in the summer for the employees to enjoy their movement with their higher level people. This can be surprised for Greyhound on how a great deal of a difference this can create. QUESTION 3 Analyze the Greyhound case in terms of the steps in the managerial decision making process. Do you think top executive paid adequate attention to all the steps? I f you were a Greyhound, what would you do now and why? Decision making means the procedure of making selection among other path of action. There are five stepladders in decision making which is very important for business. This decision creation representation in five steps is a common but extremely successful outline for making decisions and put an end to problems. This discipline will help prevent Greyhound from receiving unfocused on a number of small elements of the significant steps leading to a decision. Firstly, Greyhound has to identity and defines the problem that they are facing. In anticipation of Greyhound have an obviously thoughtful of the dilemma or decision to be made, it is worthless to continue. If the problem is stated the wrong way or indistinguishably then Greyhounds result will be incorrect. Greyhound didnt consider what the middle manager is thinking such as the employees are very rude to the customer, then Greyhound implement computerize system to solve the first problem, however, the top level didnt think about the customer who dont know how to use the software and Greyhound didnt test the software before implementing which cause the customer cant buy ticket in that software. Moreover, after everything being computerizes the customer have to wait so long in queue to buy ticket for their journey. Secondly, Greyhound has to generate and evaluate possible solution to solve the problem that they are facing. Greyhound should have know that there is possible whether to do it or dont do it when they want to implement something new in the business. Most of the time Greyhound should know that there will possible substitute for their decision. It is worth for Greyhound doing research to ensure whether they have as many good alternatives as possible. For example, Greyhound implement customer service to take care of the customer problem with the employees or Greyhound can send the entire employee to a course which teaches them how to be polite to customer. Furthermore, if Greyhound wants to implement computerize system in their business then they should test all the software available in market before choosing one of the software which is the best one. Thirdly, Greyhound has to choose a solution to solve the problem. Then main problem is the employees treated the customer very badly and implementing computerizes system so Greyhound can have a department especially for the customer to complain about their dissatisfaction and Greyhound has to do research first before choosing software. Then Greyhound has to implement the solution which means they have to put their plan into work. Finally, they have to evaluate the result whether it satisfied the customer. Greyhound can do survey whether the customer satisfied with the service that they provide. As customer is the most important people in helping the business increase their revenue. CONCLUSION In conclusion, although Greyhound faces a serious problem in introducing computerize system in their business especially Trip software which cause Greyhound suffer losses in their business. However, they still manage to overcome the problem by changing high-speed Kodak scanners are used to scan the large volume of data. This optimized high-speed scanning software was developed by Combined Computer Resources, Inc which helps Greyhound overcome their problem and increase the business profit. Being creative is one of the most excellent habits to deal with managerial transform is to rev up the managers natural powers for creative intervention. Most problems are amenable to creative, innovative solutions. The only things that frequently persist in this resolution from occur is the Greyhounds own inner obstacle and nature obligatory boundaries. Creative crisis resolve all the time contain jeopardy. Suggesting fresh thought summons disapproval from others. What if the plans not succeed? Wha t if business losses take place? What if things wind up worse than previously? They got to be enthusiastic to understand such risks if they are going to be free to think creatively. (1800 words)

Against Louis Riels Execution :: essays research papers

Louis Riel should not have been hung because he represented those who couldn't represent themselves. Louis Riel was disappointed with the way the MÃ ©tis were, so he took it upon himself to represent the MÃ ©tis and their rights. Even though the actions that followed, such as keeping the new governor out the colony, was illegal and very wrong. Riel risked it for the rights of the MÃ ©tis. As for Thomas Scott, Riel has absolutely no legal right to have him shot, but Riel himself never touched a gun for that purpose. He had a firing squad shoot Scott. Although, Riel may have ordered the squad to shoot, but the men could have backed down, no matter how powerful Riel seemed. After the rebellion, he was elected by Manitoba to sit in the House of Commons. Riel went to Ottawa but was not allowed to sit as a member in the House, for he was threatened by many to be shot if he appeared in the House. This was the mistake of the government. They should have sopped the nonsense and threats. For Riel was a man of ideas. He was a man who was knowledged in the government. It was obvious since he formed his own government. Riel would have been an asset to the Canadian government. In 1884, Gabriel Dumont rode to Montana and asked Riel to defend the MÃ ©tis once again. Riel returned to help the natives once more. Riel was risking capture when he returned. This was a very noble act on his part. Instead of staying nice and safe in Montana, Riel gave up his safety for the MÃ ©tis. Riel decided to try an unviolent approach this time instead of starting an all out rebellion. Riel and the MÃ ©tis drew up a petition and presented it to the government. The petition, which demanded more food and money for the natives, was looked over but not acted upon. The petition was fair in all parts but the government turned it down. It only demanded that what belonged to the natives be returned. In early 1885, Riel formed another provisional government, and started another rebellion. His followers killed many army troops, but once again it was not the hand of Riel that killed so many. It was of people who had their own thoughts and intuitions. They could have easily said no to Riel instead of shooting. In which case Riel was

6.05 Rate and Collision Theory Essay

Does surface area affect dissolving of Alka-Seltzer tablets? Materials: 1. solo cups 2. Alka-Seltzer tablets 3. Timer 4. Measuring Cup 5. Thermometer Procedures: 1. I placed out two of my solo cups on the counter 2. Then I put 1 cup of room temperature water into each cup. 3. Then put one Alka-Seltzer Tablet in one cup and time it until it dissolves completely. 4. In the second cup I put in a crushed up Alka- Seltzer tablet and timed it until it dissolved. 5. Repeat steps 1 through 4 one more time. Crushed Alka-Seltzer 21.86 seconds 23.52 seconds Whole Alka-Seltzer 29.15 seconds 35.33 seconds Discussion and Conclusion: Answer the following questions in complete sentences. 1. What two factors did you investigate in your procedure, and why did you choose to compare these two factors? The two factors I investigated were surface area and Alka-Seltzer. I decided to pick those if the surface area made the Alka-seltzer dissolves faster. 2. What other factors did you need to control during your investigation? Explain how you controlled each one in your procedure. Factors that I needed to control in my experiment was the temperature of water, how many Alka-Seltzer tablets to put in, and how much water to use in the cups. I had a thermometer to make sure that when I done my two trials that they both had the same temperature of water, I only put one tablet per cup, and I made sure to have the same amount of water in each cup I used. 3. What was your prediction about the results of each factor tested in your two lab procedures? Explain your predictions based on your knowledge of the dissolving process, collision theory, and reaction rates. My predictions of the results on this lab were right. I figured that if the Alka-Seltzer were crushed up it would make it more easier to dissolve since they were in little pieces instead of one big tablet. 4. In your own words, explain the collision theory, and what is necessary for a collision to be successful? Collision theory is a theory that when molecules collide in a certain way with the certain amount of energy they start to form new substances. 5. A specific catalyst was not provided for this reaction, but catalysts are useful for increasing the rate of many slow reactions. In your own words, give a detailed explanation of how catalysts can increase the rate of a reaction or process? Catalysts can increase the rate of a reaction or process because they help speed things up by reducing the amount of energy required for the reaction to happen.

The Influence of Literature on the Monster Essays

The Influence of Literature on the Monster Essays The Influence of Literature on the Monster Paper The Influence of Literature on the Monster Paper I would also switch Plutarch Lives for A Separate Peace and Ruins of Empires for the Bible. Changing the reading material of the monster would greatly impact how he acts and thus, changing the outcome of the story. Paradise Lost Is a solid read, but If the monster really wants to learn and understand nature and English, he needs a dictionary. The possibilities of a dictionary the most useful of nearly all books. If the monster had a dictionary, he loud not have to worry about eavesdropping on peoples conversations in order to learn. Paradise Lost is good literature, but will not help him like a dictionary would. With the monsters minor intelligence, a book such as this would be of great use to him. The second change in books I chose was Where the Red Fern Grows. I think the most important value in this book that may help the creature is compassion. Where the Red Fern Grows illustrates compassion in many parts of the book, as it regards a boy and his love for his dogs. The creature can learn a lot from this reading because it can open his heart more. If he does this than he can prevent himself from harming anybody, now that he has the concept of compassion. If he had learned about these good concepts from Where the Red Fern Grows, then It may have stopped him from compassion would help him to not to commit murder. Also, this skill would have helped him forgive Victor for not carrying out his plan of getting a female monster. All in all, a better choice of reading for the creature than Sorrows of a Young Writhe loud have been Where the Red Fern Grows, to better control himself and act more civil. The third book that the monster originally read was Plutarch Lives. I swapped it for A Separate Peace by John Knowles. I did this so that the monster could get a better grasp on the theme that revenge is not the answer. He needed to have a better concept of this moral because It would allow him to forgive Dry. Frankincense, and not kill his wife. The novels mall pipeline Is concerning whether one boy should get revenge or not. The creature needs to fill his mind with literature that will soften is heart, and not only give him knowledge, but teach him not to seek revenge, for it Is Tilted, not sweet. Finally, the last book swap I would make is Volleys Ruins of Empires for The Bible. The bible is the most essential book ever written. It teaches you how to live with God, many words of the English language, and it teaches a ton of history. The creature would honestly be getting the whole package if he had the Bible. If he follows the 10 Commandments in the Bible, he will not hurt anybody else. Exodus 20:13 says You shall not murder. If he follows this, like his theoretically will, then it will prevent him from killing multiple people! Also, Psalm 34 :14 says Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it. This Bible verse should lead him to make good choices and not harm anyone anymore. My last Bible verse is John 3:16, For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. This verse would really be a revelation to the monster because it would give him someone to talk to. I think if the monster had a real legislation with the Lord, no problems would have occurred. All in all, changing the reading material of the creature could have really prevented some conflict in the story. All four changed books should have helped the creature gain a better understanding of the moral concepts of compassion, and that revenge does not pay, and not kill anybody. The Bible should get him in a relationship with God, impacting his decision making in a positive manner. If the reading material for the creature was altered then maybe the outcome of the book would have been different.