What Happened In World War II Essays (347 words) -

What happened in World War II? The war didn't just start one day. Many events led up to this vivid memory. The whole thing is based on propaganda and beliefs of a man named Aldof Hitler. In January 1933 he became chancellor of Germany. As soon as he was in office he put laws on the Jews community. Germany became obsessed with power and soon they are invading Poland, Britain, Norway, Holland, Denmark, Belgium, Luxembourg, and France. War was on. The war was a war on the world. Throughout Europe war was lose. The Holocaust was in full swing. Jews were being sent to camps by the train full. Normandy invasion caused over 10,000 deaths and that was just on the French side. The Battle of the Bulge was a huge surprise attack, which caused German to lose tons of skilled labors. Germany was determined, they fought until May 1945. The United States was in a battle for life with Japan. In December 1941 Japan dropped a bomb on Pearl Harbor causing the day to be know as "The day of Infamy." This was the start of the US battles. The US became paranoid and placed Japanese Americans in Internment camps'. Japan and the US fought continuously over land. The Battle of Midway, and Iwo Jima were two of the biggest battles, the US won both. Japan still wouldn't give up. They continued to fight and began a plan of attack. They had a top-secret weapon, the atomic bomb. The atomic bomb was dropped in two major cities, Hiroshima, and Nagasaki. 75,000 people died, Japan gave up. The war ended on August 9, 1945, the day the atomic bomb was dropped on Nagasaki. The US hit Japan where it hurt, and the damages are unforgettable. In May 1945 German gave up, and surrendered causing a victory for the allies. The over all lose was huge, millions of Jews, millions of Americans, millions of Japanese, millions and millions of people all over the world paid the ultimate sacrifice through out this tireless war, death.

Free Essays on Dionysus

Zeus’ divine child relishes the happy life He loves peace who sheds happiness Peace who nurses admirable youths And gave of the rich and poor He hates those who do not do their best day and wondrous night to live happily. (Euripides, Bacchai 416-426) Dionysus has been called the Father of Wine, the Bringer of Virility, and the Patron of the Theatrical Arts, of which he is most well known for. Dionysus, also known as Bacchus, Iacchus, Bassareus, Trietenicus, and Liber, is credited for the creation of wine and theatre, yet his origins and earthly powers are vague and convoluted (Apiryon, 1). His origin has long been suspected to be in a fusion of a rural, local Greek nature god and another more potent god imported from Phrygia (central Turkey) or Thrace later in Greek prehistory (Gross, 1). Contradictory, Dionysus was one of the most important deities to the Greeks, yet historically he was rarely mentioned in writing. He was the Thracian, and eventually Greek, god of ecstasy, terror, guilt and atonement, death and resurrection, vegetation, trees, wine, madness, and drama. He also represented Eleusis: ecstasy, personal delivery from the world through physical or spiritual intoxication, and initiation into secret rites (1).To compreh end the complicated worship of this (once)nature deity, one must understand his origins, his followers, his holidays, and the evolution of the entire religion into the current form of theatre today. There are countless versions to the origins of Dionysus, and most continue in a common thread while contradicting each other. In the most profuse and popular tale, Dionysus was born of Zeus and Semele, a mortal woman whom Zeus had fallen in love with and the romance continued for many years. To no ones surprise, Semele became pregnant and rumors flew around Mt. Olympus. Eventually Hera, Queen of the gods and Zeus’ wife, discovered her husband’s secret affair with this human woman and became gree... Free Essays on Dionysus Free Essays on Dionysus DIONYSUS Dionysus, also known as Bacchus, is the son of the god Zeus and Semele. He is known as the twice-born god because Zeus unintentionally burned Semele on the account of Hera’s trickery and Dionysus died inside Semele. There are a few stories that come to his rebirth but the one that is most remembered in mythology is that Hermes took the heart of Dionysus and sew it into Zeus’s leg. After much persecution by Hera, Zeus finally became fed up with it and turned Dionysus into a god. Dionysus was the god of many things and some think that he is the most important god out of all of them which I for one agree with. To start he was the first god of fertility associated with plants and animals. For this he was known as â€Å"he of the trees†. He is also the god of wine, he had discovered this when he was in Nysa, also known as god of blossoms. This is where things get confusing. Dionysus is associated with both the life force and with death. He brings death, madness, and destruction to every where he goes and everyone that follows. However, paradoxically resurrection and life as well. For example; Dionysus drove Ino, his nurse, insane and she boiled her child alive, however she jumped into the sea and became a sea goddess. His mother, Semele, was burned alive but she joins Dionysus and other gods at Mount Olympus. By creating destruction in a way he is also creating life. Dionysus played an important role in helping life go on. He is the god of wine which in those days was a major thing to the Greeks and stimulated not only self worth and peoples lives but also stimulated procreation. The people that followed him would go mad, they would have parties and drink and let themselves go free without the common day worries and let life live. He is a god of the people. He understands them and the people that were his followers had a piece of him inside of them. He understood death like no other god could because he is the only ... Free Essays on Dionysus Zeus’ divine child relishes the happy life He loves peace who sheds happiness Peace who nurses admirable youths And gave of the rich and poor He hates those who do not do their best day and wondrous night to live happily. (Euripides, Bacchai 416-426) Dionysus has been called the Father of Wine, the Bringer of Virility, and the Patron of the Theatrical Arts, of which he is most well known for. Dionysus, also known as Bacchus, Iacchus, Bassareus, Trietenicus, and Liber, is credited for the creation of wine and theatre, yet his origins and earthly powers are vague and convoluted (Apiryon, 1). His origin has long been suspected to be in a fusion of a rural, local Greek nature god and another more potent god imported from Phrygia (central Turkey) or Thrace later in Greek prehistory (Gross, 1). Contradictory, Dionysus was one of the most important deities to the Greeks, yet historically he was rarely mentioned in writing. He was the Thracian, and eventually Greek, god of ecstasy, terror, guilt and atonement, death and resurrection, vegetation, trees, wine, madness, and drama. He also represented Eleusis: ecstasy, personal delivery from the world through physical or spiritual intoxication, and initiation into secret rites (1).To compreh end the complicated worship of this (once)nature deity, one must understand his origins, his followers, his holidays, and the evolution of the entire religion into the current form of theatre today. There are countless versions to the origins of Dionysus, and most continue in a common thread while contradicting each other. In the most profuse and popular tale, Dionysus was born of Zeus and Semele, a mortal woman whom Zeus had fallen in love with and the romance continued for many years. To no ones surprise, Semele became pregnant and rumors flew around Mt. Olympus. Eventually Hera, Queen of the gods and Zeus’ wife, discovered her husband’s secret affair with this human woman and became gree... Free Essays on Dionysus Son of Zeus and Semele, also known in both Greek and Latin as Bacchus. According to Ovid, when his mother was killed Zeus snatched her unborn child and sewed him into his own thigh. The Homeric Hymn to Dionysos (1) gives variant versions of his birth. He is unusual in that he has a mortal mother, the story of Semele places his birth much later than those of the other gods. Several stories tell of the fate of mortals who refused to recognised or accept Dionysos, as in Euripides' Bacchae. Apollodorus, Bibliotheca, 3.5 and Homer, Iliad, 6 tell the story of Lykourgos, a Thracian king who tried to expel Dionysos and was driven mad. Homeric Hymn to Dionysos, 7 tells of the fate of mortals who failed to recognise him. He was captured by pirates but made a vine grow on the ship and transformed himself into a lion. The pirates ended up as dolphins. As these stories suggest, Dionysos is often depicted as travelling throughout Greece, often arriving from the east. As knowledge of the world to the east expanded with Alexander's campaigns as far as India, so did the regions from which Dionysos was thought to arrive in Greece. In the Hellenistic and Roman periods he was depicted as arriving in triumph from India, accompanied by exotic animals. Dionysos is the god of wine and song and is usually depicted in art and literature accompanied by maenads, satyrs and silens. The maenads often carry parts of animals they have torn apart in their frenzy. This is how he is described by Catullus and Ovid when he arrives on the island of Naxos to rescue Ariadne. At Athens tragedy was performed at the festival of Dionysos (Dionysia). The Anthesteria was a festival which commemorated the death of Ikarios the first man to introduce wine to Attica. His countrymen killed him when they felt the effects of the drink and thought he had poisoned them. Ikarios' daughter, Erigone, hanged herself (Apollodoros, 3.14.7). Dionysos was also associated wit...

Use French to Talk About the Tour de France

Use French to Talk About the Tour de France Whether you love cycling or just watching competitions like the Tour de France, youll want to learn some French cycling terminology. Here are the top French cycling-related nouns, verbs, and idiomatic expressions. Essential Tour Terms le cyclisme:  cycling, biking Le Tour de France:  the Tour de France (literally, tour of France)Note that tour  is one of those French nouns with two genders.  Le tour  means the tour.  La tour means the tower. Using the wrong gender, in this case, could cause confusion. La Grande Boucle:  The Big Loop (French nickname for the  Tour de France) Vive la France!  :Go France!  Yay France! Hurray for France (roughly)   People and Riders un autobus: a group that rides together to finish within the time allottedun commissaire:  referee who travels by carun coureur:  rider, cyclistun cycliste:  rider, cyclistun directeur sportif:  managerun domestique:  support riderun à ©chappà ©:  breakawayune à ©quipe:  teamun grimpeur:  climberun grupeto:  same as autobusun peloton:  pack, bunchun poursuivant:  chaserun rouleur:  smooth and steady riderun soigneur:  riders assistantun sprinteur:  sprinterla tà ªte de course:  leader Cycling Styles    bloc:  riding all out, as hard and fast as possiblela cadence: pedaling rhythmchasse patate:  riding between two groups (literally, potato hunt)la danseuse:  standing up Equipment un bidon:  water bottleun casque:  helmetune crevaison:  flat, punctureun dossard:  number on riders uniformun maillot:  jerseyune musette:  feed bagun pneu:  tireun pneu crevà ©:  flat tireune roue:  wheelun và ©lo de course:  racing bikeune voiture balai:  broom wagon Tracks and Courses une borne kilomà ©trique:  milestone (literally, a kilometer marker)un col:  mountain passune cà ´te:  hill, slopeune course:  raceune course par à ©tapes:  stage raceune descente:  downward slopeune à ©tape:  stage, legla flamme rouge:  red marker at one kilometer from finishhors catà ©gorie:  beyond classification (extremely difficult)une montagne:  mountainune montà ©e:  upward slopeun parcours:  route, courseune plaine:  plains, flat landune piste:  trackune route:  road Standings and Scoring la bonification:  bonus pointsune chute:  fall, crashle classement:  standingscontre la montre:  time trialla lanterne rouge:  last riderle maillot pois:  polka dot jersey (worn by best climber)le maillot blanc:  white jersey (worn by the best rider under 25)le maillot jaune:  yellow jersey (worn by the overall leader)le maillot vert:  green jersey (worn by points leader / best sprinter) Cycling Verbs accà ©là ©rer:  to acceleratesaccrocher :  to cling, hang on toattaquer:  to attack, charge  aheadchanger dallure:  to change pacechanger de vitesse:  to shift gearscourir:  to ridedà ©passer:  to overtakedà ©raper:  to slip, skids à ©chapper:  to break awaygrimper:  to climbprendre la tà ªte:  Ã‚  to take the leadralentir: to slow downrouler:  Ã‚  to ride

International Trade Operations in Egypt Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

International Trade Operations in Egypt - Essay Example The paper tells that Egypt happens to be the most populated Arab nation. It also happens to be the second most populated African Nation. Most of the population of Egypt is concentrated in the big cities like Alexandria and Cairo and in and around the Delta of the Nile Valley. The population in the rural areas in Egypt is on the decline because a large number of Egyptian populations are migrating to the urban hubs to assess a better life style and to benefit from the economic development taking place in these urban hubs. Egypt could be classified to be a well educated nation with its literacy rate being 71.4 percent. In Egypt education is free right up to the university level and it is compulsory from age 6 through 15. The long standing Egyptian President, Hosni Mubarak had to resign following large scale political protests in the nation, predominantly led by the young people. In the year 2004, the Egyptian government initiated large scale economic reforms aimed at privatizing the los s making public sector units and rationalizing the tariffs and taxes. Egypt experienced a commendable economic growth, resting at 7 percent till the year 2008. However, with the onset of the global economic crisis, the economic growth went below the earlier 7 percent mark. Considering the recent, widespread political protests in Egypt, the rate of economic growth could be expected to remain low for the time. However, it could reasonably be assumed that Egypt is gradually moving towards a democratic, parliamentary form of government. With the initiation of the political reforms, the Egyptian economy could favorably be expected to align further with the Global economic trends and Practices. Slide II Egypt is not only the home to a fast growing population, but, the positive thing is that a majority of the Egyptian population comprises of young people and the aged constitute a miniscule of the Egyptian population. It is a fact corroborated by commonsense that young people are usually mo re open to new ideas, ways of doing things, products and services. Besides, young people are usually more informed about the global trends be they political, economic or culinary. Also considering the large size of the population that mainly comprises of young people, Egypt will have to import more food products to feed it. Going by the fact that most of the Egyptian farming and diary is concentrated in the Nile Valley, which comprises of a meager arable land, not capable of producing enough food to feed the large Egyptian population, it could well be expected that in the times to come, Egypt will have to rely on the outside sources to feed its fast growing population. Also, going by the concentration of young people in the Egyptian population, in the times to come it could safely be assumed that this relatively young population will exhibit a marked preference for foreign foods and culinary delights. In that context, it is a propitious time for the Content Cow Diary to export its p roducts to Egypt. If it forays into the Egyptian markets right now, it could pragmatically expect to consolidate its position in the Egyptian markets, in the times to come. Slide III International trade to a large extent is determined by the free interplay of demand and supply and the economies of scale that varied nations command in the context of specific products. If one looks at the GDP of Egypt, one could easily see that the agriculture sector contributes a meager 14.4 percent to the national GDP (CIA The World FactBook, 2012). In contrast, the other pillars of the Egyptian economy that are industry and services sector contribute 39.5 percent and 45.8 percent respectively to the national GDP (CIA The World FactBook, 2012). Thus, it will be quiet realistic to assume that the agriculture sector in Egypt is not well developed and modernized and could not be expected to churn out enough to be able to feed

There are limitations, but financial and management accounting perform Essay

There are limitations, but financial and management accounting perform a fundamental role in the measurement of performance wit - Essay Example In this context, the performance measurement has been characterized as an activity of key value for organizations in different industrial sectors. The specific issue is examined in this paper; emphasis is given on the role of the financial and management accounting in performance measurement, as a key part of strategic decision process in modern organizations. It is concluded that both financial and management accounting are quite important for the successful development of performance measurement schemes – even if, in certain cases, the involvement of financial and management accounting in performance measurement causes delays in the completion of the relevant processes – under the terms presented below. Because of the above problem, a series of recommendations has been included in this study aiming to support the improvement of performance measurement systems. 2. Performance measurement in organizations 2.1 Performance measurement – description, role The use of performance measurement in modern organizations has been related to the achievement of specific organizational targets. Most commonly, the performance measurement is used a firm’s managers in order to evaluate whether the organizational activities manage to achieve a particular level of performance – as set by the planners of these activities. In this way, it will be possible to estimate if these activities have paid back the investment made on them or not. In practice, the performance measurement – as one of the firm’s key strategic processes – can be quite complex. This fact is reflected in the theories developed in the particular field – referring to the content, the role and the phases of performance measurement in modern organizations. At a first level, certain differentiations can be identified in the criteria used by theorists when having to define the performance measurement; however, a close examination of their views would lead to the assumption that they all emphasize on the value of performance measurement as a tool for estimating the achievement of organizational goals – including the risks involved. In accordance with Hatry (2006) the performance measurement can be defined as the ‘regular measurement of the results (outcomes) and efficiency of services or programs’ (Hatry 2006, p3). On the other hand, Meyer (2003) notes that the term ‘performance measurement’ can be explained using two different definitions: the dictionary definition, which focuses on the past, i.e. on the performance of the organization up to the time point when its performance is measured and the economic definition, which refers rather to the future, emphasizing on ‘the measurement of the shareholder value into the firm’ (Meyer 2003, p20). It is further explained that in the context of the dictionary definition ‘performance is measured by operational measures or current financial res ults’ (Meyer 2003, p20); on the other hand, the economic definition is based on the measurement of performance ‘using share prices’ (Meyer 2003, p20). Another definition of performance measurement is mentioned in the study of Harbour (1997); in the above study reference is made to the performance measurement as a method for ‘measuring work accomplishments and output’ (Harbour 1997, p7). At the next level, Epstein et al. (2006) emphasize on

Overview Of Benchmarking Theory Management Essay

Overview Of Benchmarking Theory Management Essay Benchmarking theory is established upon the performance comparison, gap, and changes in the management process (Watson, 1993). A literature review also shows that majority of benchmarking methodologies perform the same function as performance gap analysis (e.g. Camp, 1989; Karlof and Ostblom, 1993; Watson, 1993). In a context of waste, first rule of benchmarking is to determine the performance gaps with respect to generation and utilization within a management system and to develop method to close them. The gap between internal and external practices reveals the changes and at the same time differentiates benchmarking theory from comparison research and competitive analysis. The author explained further that competitive analysis focus on product or service comparisons but benchmarking examine the operating and management skills that is use to produce goods and services. More also, competitive analysis looks at the characteristic of competitors in the same geographical location whilst benchmarking seeks to find the best practices regardless of location. (Walleck et al., 1991). Benchmarking has been defined by many authors due to its positive and negative result affecting the success of performance improvement within the organization. The literature review of Kozak, 2004, original sources: Camp, 1989; Zairi, 1992; Smith et al., 1993; Rogers et al., 1995, explained that benchmarking: Enable organization to ascertain the position they have more strength and weaknesses depending upon charges in supply, demand and market condition. Enables to set new standard and objectives to enhance customer satisfaction in term of quality, cost, product and services. It gives employees new standard knowledge to work on and also motivate them to always strive for more improvement. Enable organization to determine the possible level of performance they could attain by looking at others and to what extent they could achieved such performance Help organization to stimulate continuous performance which will give them competitive edge over others and enables it maintain world class standard. Despite the above benefit, a successful benchmarking researcher Bendell (1993) stated that time constraints, competitive barriers, cost, lack of both management commitment and professional human resources, resistance to change, poor planning and short-term expectations are regarded as barriers. The author further noted that poor execution of benchmarking exercise can lead to waste of time, finance and human resources. Elmuti and Kathawala( 1997) illustrate that there is no single best practice of benchmarking because peoples ideology varies and organization concept and system differs from one another. On a contrary, there is a risk involved in benchmarking others and adopting their new standards into ones own company. However, the best practice which is producing outstanding performance with good examples should be perceived and adopted. According to research, benchmarking has been defined by many authors and organization even though each definition aims to reach same conclusion. Nevertheless, benchmarking was basically stems from Demings quality management theory, which aims to enhance quality and check its sustainability by following several stages in order( Kozak 2004, p5). Websters Dictionary defines benchmark as a standard by which something can be measured or judged (Kozak, 2004 p. 5). Xerox and Robert C. Camp at the end of the 1980s gave most widely accepted and referenced text on the subject of benchmarking as the continuous process of measuring our products, services and practices against the toughest competitors or those companies recognized as industry leaders (Camp, 1989). On a simply note, benchmarking is the process of finding the best practice in an organization and forecasting what performance should yield in the future. The three principles of benchmarking are maintaining quality, customer satisfacti on and continuous improvement. (Kozak 2004, p.5, original source: Watson, 1993). Some author sees benchmarking as a continuous process or measurement while others defined it as finding and looking significance things to enhance an organization performance. For example, Vaziri (1992) defined benchmarking as a continuous process of comparing organizations performance with that rated as the best within the industry considering consumers needs and determining what needed to be improved in order to have competitive edge in the future. Similarly, Watson (1993) also emphasizes benchmarking in term of continuity feature referring to the continuous input of information acquired from benchmarked organization into the organization. Geber (1990, p. 36) based his definition at significance focus on the best practice of benchmarking as follow: a process of finding the world-class examples of a product, service or operational system and then adjusting your products, services or systems to meet or beat those standards. Approaches to definitions of benchmarking Adopted from (Kozak, 2004. Destination Benchmarking) In practice by many organizations, benchmarking process usually encompasses the following: Regularly analyzing and comparing aspect of performance with high ranked organization Identifying the performance gaps Establishing fresh method to improve on such performances Continuous tracking the implementation improvement; and By continuous monitoring progress stages and assessing the benefit Types of benchmarking Due to many relevant literature reviews, it could be seen that there are many classification of benchmarking, the main categorization are internal, competitive and functional benchmarking (Kozak 2004, p.10 original authors: Camp, 1989; Zairi, 1992). Kozak (2004,p.10) further classified benchmarking into two parts: internal and external benchmarking, in same context, competitive and functional benchmarking was classified under external benchmarking. INTERNAL BENCHMARKING Internal benchmarking is regarded as two ways communication and sharing information between departments within the same organization or between organizations operating as a branch in different countries (Cross and Leonard, 1994; Breiter and Kline, 1995). This kind of system can be found in a franchising company whereby an outstanding performance by any part of the organization will be learnt by the other. Internal benchmarking is an added advantage to an organization or partner who shares a common language, culture and systems, having easy access to data, and giving a baseline for future comparisons (Breiter and Kline, 1995). EXTERNAL BENCHMARKING It is an opposite or reverse case of internal benchmarking as it was read in many relative literatures. External benchmarking requires comparison of activities with external organization in order to acquire method, new ideas and knowledge using by the organization to attain such an outstanding performance in the production of goods and services. Kozak (2004, p11) noted the objective of external benchmarking as the persistence in improvement of ones performance by measuring and comparing with that of others and determine how others achieve their performance levels. This type of benchmarking provides opportunities for an organization to learn from the best practices and experiences of the others who have the competitive edge in the industry. The consistent review of benchmarking by Kozak (2004, p.11) has brought up another three subcategories of benchmarking which are: competitive, generic and relationship benchmarking. Competitive benchmarking: this type of benchmarking occurs only among the direct competitors. According to Kozak (2004) explains that competitive benchmarking is regarded as the most sensitive type of benchmarking activities because of it difficulties in achieving an applaudable collaboration and cooperation with direct competitors and reach primary sources of information. For example Xeroxs market shares starts to diminish because of the entrance of new competitors. Therefore the management decided to benchmark its performance with competitors within the same industry. The results of this enhance its financial position, stabilized its market shares and increase its customers satisfaction. (Cook, 1995). Functional benchmarking: Functional benchmarking refers to comparative research and attempts to seek world-class excellence by comparing business performance not only against competitors but also against the best businesses operating in similar fields and performing similar activities or having similar problems, but in a different industry (Kozak, 2004, original sources: Davies, 1990; Breiter and Kline, 1995). For instance British Rail Network South East benchmarked British airways in order to improve the standard of cleanliness of trains. They were able to achieve such aim by the survey that was conducted on British airways mode of cleanliness. (Cook, 2005). Moreover, this type of benchmarking makes it easier for best in class organizations to share new ideas, best practice and experience together and it is as well regarded as non- competitive benchmarking (Kozak 2004, p.12). Relationship benchmarking: This type of benchmarking occurs between organizations that have mutual relationship together before the agreement of benchmarking is sealed (Anderson, 1995). This method potentially may provide some benefits to organizations since less time is required and the trust established between the two parties will help break down confidentiality barriers. Cox et al. (1997) call this collaborative benchmarking. Benchmarking best practice Historically, benchmarking is seen as an essential tools for continuous improvement of goods and services in an organization ( Dattakumar and Jagadeesh 2003). For example Xerox Corporation in the united state was the first company to be credited with a successful benchmarking project in 1979. Nowadays, organizations have realized that in order for them to survive in the nearest future, they have to initiate major changes within their organization that will make them more productive and reduce costs. benchmarking goes beyond just competitive analyses, rather than analyzing organizational processes and method to assess how the competitive edge is achieved. Benchmarking against Best practice requires seeking out the undisputed leader in the process that is critical to business success regardless of sector or locations. I.e using the most effective methods of achieving optimal performance leading to superior performance is the process of benchmarking for Best Practices identifying, sharing, and imparting knowledge, innovative ideas, and highly effective operating procedures related to best business practices, inside and outside your organization (Julian L. Aston and Jonathan A. Goldhill). In a nutshell, the achievement of any organization is to successfully identify and appl ying best practices in its operations which will result to reduction in business expenses and improve its organizational efficiency. In order for benchmarking process to be achieved in an organization, the follow steps need to be initiated and implemented (Julian L. Aston and Jonathan A. Goldhill): Step 1: The management needs to establish a lead Best Practices team that will be engaged with overall development and company-wide implementation of this important new activity. In addition, creates departmental benchmarking teams charged with development and implementation of Best Practices within their individual department. Step 2: Each team determines the types of Best Practices their department must uphold. Step 3: Teams identify benchmarking resources applicable to their Best Practice needs. Step 4: The teams collect and analyze information. Step 5: Each team determines the value of each Best Practice relative to attaining departmental and overall corporate objectives. Step 6: Team members take the time to understand and analyze the point gap between an existing standard or practice and the desired best practice standard. Step 7: Each team brainstorms how they can close the point gap, and develops an action plan in support of upholding each Best Practice. Step 8: The teams take action under the leadership and guidance of the Lead Best Practices Team, reporting to Senior Management. Finally in order for the implementation of a Best Practices Program to be successful, establishment of departmental Best Practices teams must be initiated and charged with the task of managing the process on a continuous basis. Best Practices Example A vivid example of a best practice is demonstrated by SRC in Springfield, Missouri. Convinced that everyone is responsible for the companys success, SRCs management team trained every employee in cash flow management, a tool that has enabled the company to generate double-digit growth every year since its founding 12 years ago. SRC has grown in 12 years from one company of 100 employees to 12 employee-owned companies in 16 sites with 750 people. SRC has been named the Entrepreneurial Company of the Year by Inc. magazine for the last three years. The current turnover rate is less than 1 percent. http://www.qualitydigest.com/feb/bench.html DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BENCHMARKING AND BEST PRACTICES Are benchmarking and best practices the same? According to many literature reviews, it could be understood that benchmarking is totally differ from best practices. Benchmarking is the process that gives one the opportunities to ascertain potential best practices, i.e. identifying best ranked performer; one to locate a specific practices within an organization that could enhance own performance. However, there are different categories of benchmarking which organization might practice and it was understood that some organization benchmarked for the purpose of setting performance target for their own organization rather to ascertain practices that contributed to the success of other organization and to emulate it. What distinguishes best practices from benchmarking? A best practice is never a new idea, perhaps is what meets the seven following criteria: Successful over Time: A best practice must be documented. Quantifiable results: The achievement must be quantifiable. Innovative: Must have a distinctive program and process from its peer Recognized positive outcome: Best practice should generate different positive result and indicators Repeatable: A best practice should be adopted with modifications. Should establish different strategies and be able forecast benefits that are likely to be accrue to others. Has local importance: Best practice is seen as an outstanding performance to those who seek for it. Therefore, it should not be a duplicate strategy; i.e organizations should adopt it with modification. Not linked to unique demographics: A best practice may have evolved as a result of unique demographics, but organization from other demographics should be able to transfer with modification. http://www.scribd.com/doc/83467243/14/DIFFERENCE-BETWEEN-BENCHMARKING-AND-BEST-PRACTICES. In conclusion, although different authors views benchmarking from their different perspectives as it is demonstrated in the figure () . All these definitions portray same aim and objectives: the continuous measurement and improvement of an organizations performance against the best in the industry to obtain information about new working methods or practices (Kozak 2004, p.7). However, best practices and methods that are seen as the success key to an organization may not necessarily be the best to those adopting it. Therefore benchmarking requires full scale modification and extensive innovation in order for justifiable achievement to be attain.

Caliban and Trinculo Essay

Caliban and Trinculo are hiding underneath Caliban’s cloak because they are afraid of the storm and of what other beings are approaching them. Stefano has discovered what he thinks is a creature with four legs and two heads, which is really Caliban’s and Trinculo’s legs next to each other and both of their voices. The use of language in this extract differs between characters. Stefano’s use of language is blunt and basic English. The fact that he is drunk adds to the effect that his words are slightly slurred. Stefano and Trinculo are both very low down in the hierarchy, Stefano is the Alonso’s butler and Trinculo is his jester, and this also means that they would not have been taught proper English and so would not have been able to speak in clear, full sentences even when they were not scared of the storm and drunk. Caliban’s language however is a lot nobler and it is of much better English than those of Trinculo and Stefano. This is strange because it would be much more correct to have it the other way around with Trinculo and Stefano speaking better English than Caliban. The reason for this is because when Prospero first discovered Caliban, he treated him nicely and with some respect and Miranda also taught him to speak properly and eloquently and so he sounds like a nobler creature than he actually appears to others. Stefano plays a minor role in the play but provides much of the humour and acts as a contrast between those characters high up in the hierarchy and Caliban. Stefano and Trinculo do no measure up to characters like Alonso, Sebastian and Antonio, but both men have very similar characters. Trinculo’s role in the play is to convey to the audience the comedy and humour that most of the traditional plays of that time contained. However, because he, like Stefano, sees Caliban as a source of future income, he gets jealous because Caliban has chosen Stefano to be his master. When the opportunity arises, he is more interested in getting as much as he can than in fairness. There are many different themes to Shakespeare’s play, ‘The Tempest’, and they all occur frequently. One of these is sovereignty. It is connected repeatedly to Alonso and the usurpation of the throne of Naples and of the Dukedom of Milan. The occurrence of this theme in this passage is when Stefano has just discovered Trinculo hiding from the storm underneath Caliban’s cloak and Trinculo says, ‘And art thou living, Stefano? O Stefano, two Neapolitans ‘scaped? ‘ Trinculo is asking Stefano if they are the only two people to survive the storm. They think that they are the only ones to survive and so they now believe that they are in line for the throne now that the king, his son and all of the others are out of the way. This also connects to the theme of usurpation which is also echoed frequently throughout the play. Other examples of usurpation in this extract and throughout the play are numerous. One of the main ones is when Antonio and Sebastian conspire to kill Alonso and Gonzalo whilst they slept in order to take over the throne of Naples together.