Leading Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Leading - Essay Example Leaders see a vision and communicate that vision to their followers or subordinates. They focus on tomorrow rather than today. They inspire action and change. They are characterized by their people’s skills, their ability to motivate and get the last ounce of effort from their staff in time of crisis (McGovern, et. al 2008). On the other hand, they frequently dislike detail and routine, and can appear wildly disorganized to their colleagues. Leaders are optimistic, self-motivated, persuasive, convincing and goal oriented personnel. They are needed in all workplaces because of their ability to lead and to motivate the employees in different times. They help the management in bringing about a change. They facilitate the employees to move in a direction which is considered important by them. The leadership that is considered attractive and effective is that kind of leadership that keeps the capacity of persuasion. Effective leaders are always able to motivate people in their set direction. The leaders make people do their suggested jobs, as they exercise a certain power on employees on the basis of their effective motivation and encouragement (Parry and Hansen 2007). There are eleven kinds of leadership styles, as leaders are not all alike. They differ from one another on the basis of their opted strategies for leading people. There are bureaucratic leaders who have well thought-out and considered tasks, these kinds of leaders negate the innovatory ideas as they are stick to some set of rules and principles and also make sure that the principles and laws are not overruled (McGovern, et. al 2008). Another kind of leadership style is charismatic leadership in which, the leaders are mostly interested in inculcating energy and fervor in the employees due to which, they take deep interest in a task. Autocratic leadership is a form of leadership in which, the leader has the authority to exercise all his power in

Significant Business Risk Factors Essay Example for Free

Significant Business Risk Factors Essay 1. Limited Shelf Life Empirical evidence suggests that retailers must adapt to new product style trends in order to satisfy consumers and other key stakeholders (Ryan, 2011). In respect to Harvey Norman (HVN), failure to adapt will entail lower consumer demand, hindering growth and profitability. It is important to note a limited shelf life of HVN’s products exists due to changing trends. This in turn gives rise to the risk of inventory becoming obsolete and rising excess stock in the warehouse. Therefore, HVN should further emphasise on its inventory management, in order to minimise inventory build up and overall expenses in the entity. 2. Increased Competition from online shopping Studies reveal that Australian consumers have embraced online shopping, recording a 23% growth in 2012 (Irvine, 2013). In order to combat the fierce competition in the online market, HVN introduced its ‘Omni-strategy,’ which focused on the enhancement of its digital store. There is evidence of success from this strategy with the firm recently named as ‘The Best Multichannel Retailer’ in the ORIA 2013 awards (Chanthadavong, 2013). Despite this acclaim, it is of paramount importance that HVN considers enhancing its distribution channels, especially its digital store through better pricing on delivery times for online purchasesand a greater focus on personalised services for internet empowered consumers. This will sustain consumer expectations and ensure the firm captures a greater portion of its target market (Chanthadavong, 2013). 3. Threat from domestic competitors Despite being one of Australia’s retail giants, HVN in recent times has been battling it out in the domestic market due to growing competition. In 2012, HVN was labelled as the most expensive Australian electronic giant recording a severe slump in its pricing position in comparison to its counterparts such as Dick Smith Electronics and JB HI-FI (Jager, 2013). The underlying reason for the slump was predominantly due to the high costs from GST and compliance laws (Morley, 2013). Additionally, three of HVN’s recently acquired subsidiaries failed during the 2011/2012 financial years. This  proved to be a costly investment for the firm reduced its competitive position in the furniture and electrical goods industry (Coyne, 2013). Furthermore, the entity’s poor pricing position detrimentally impacted the electronics giant’s sales (-4.9%) and profitability (-2.38%) (Harvey Norman, 2012). This suggests that HVN may have inventory build-up, excessive discounting and price deflation due to staggering consumer demand. 4. Stagnating growth in the global retail industry Stagnating growth in the global retail industry has resulted in lower consumer demand and expenditure. A study from IBIS reveals that Australian appliance retailing has fallen by nearly two percent (IBISworld, 2013). Additionally, declining consumer demand has influenced a fall in the Australian dollar (AUD), which has negatively impacted sales in HVN Australian and international stores such as New Zealand and Ireland (Harvey Norman, 2012). HVN’s 2012 Annual Report reinforces that the negative growth has inhibited a reduction of HVN’s profitability, revenue and thus increasing the risk of obsolescence of inventory. 5. Natural Disasters affecting Harvey Norman Stores Recent natural disasters have damaged many HVN Australian and New Zealand stores. For instance, a fire in the storage area of Harvey Norman in Porirua New Zealand heavily damaged a HVN store earlier in June 2013 (New Zealand Herald, 2013). This has had detrimental impacts on HVN’s sales revenue in its New Zealand market (Harvey Norman, 2012 p. 10). It is important to note that these disasters increase time wastage spent on rebuilding stores and increases the risk of overstatement of assets, as they may not have been properly removed off premises. 6. Misleading advertising It is of paramount importance that a company doesn’t engage in false and deceptive marketing; especially if the products fail to exist in the warehouse. HVN was recently fined through infringement notices worth $6,600 for advertising stock they did not hold in a bid to mislead customers. According to the ACCC, this act breached the Trade Practices Act in promoting material. Moreover, this has had financial and non-financial impacts for the company, specifically affecting future sales and brand image  on reliability of the company’s stance to deliver with full efficiency. This is also known as operational and compliance risk. 7. Threat of the geographical location of franchises According to the entity’s 2012 annual report, franchising is deemed to be HVN’s predominant source of its revenue. Whilst, HVN has franchise locations globally, its New Zealand stores attract the highest level of sales revenue (Harvey Norman, 2012). Growth in sales have peaked in stores located around the mining districts such as Western Australia, Hunter Valley, but have dropped in performance in the capital cities such Sydney and Melbourne. A financial risk of going on concern can be indicated from here as the need of consumers shift and with competition HVN may not be selling and trading as much in the cities leading to inventory overload and incremented liabilities affecting overall business performance. 8. Currency Fluctuations During the 2012 financial year, the AUD fluctuated a significant amount against the most popular currency for trade (USD) by about $0.9544 to $1.1055 (RBA 2012). A fluctuation of $0.1511combined with trades amounting in millions would potentially lead to a large discrepancy to HVN’s Accounts receivable and payable accounts. Additionally, a lower AUD reflects that HVN would have to increase the retail prices in order to achieve the same profit margin (Campbell Phillips 2013). Empirical evidence reveals that if the dollar drops to around $0.80AUD compared to the USD, Australian consumers can expect an increase in prices of about 25% (Campbell Phillips 2013). This increase can be counteracted through hedging of the currencies, however volatility of the commodity market could potentially reduce HVN’s sales. Specifically, if sales decreases the risk of inventory obsolesces and write downs through idol stock increases.

The South African Forced Removals History Essay

The South African Forced Removals History Essay In South Africa, apartheid was an important factor in the forced removal of many innocent South Africans, due to the color of their skin. Throughout the 1900s the struggle between segregation and equality was brought to attention, affecting almost every aspect of a black South Africans life. From the causes, to the effects upon the civilians, the forced removals majorly affected the present day South Africa. From 1960 to 1983 the Bantustan Policy was enforced to forcibly move South African blacks out of the area designated for whites. There are many causes as to why the forced resettlement of blacks was conveyed byt the government. The apartheid more or less originated back in 1652 when white settlers first arrived in South Africa. This history did impact the way the laws and policies were enforced later on 1948 on by the nationalist party. In 1910, the Union was formed. After this, the territorial segregation the white settlers had impressed was put in law with the 1913 Black Land Act. The Black Land Act limited the areas black Africans could occupy through ownership or rent. This act would become the basic land policy of South Africa up until the end of the resettlement. The Act also made the number of migrant laborers increase, since most of the industries and mines, which was and still is the main source of income for Africans, were occupied by black workers, but were located on white land. During the 1930s and 40s, the amount of money blacks were paid in urban areas was considerably better than that of rural, and this began a migration of black Africans into urban areas. This countered the wishes of the dominant agricultural capitalists, who needed a good work force during the agricultural boom of the 1950s. Thus begun the move towards forced removals, to keep blacks out of white urban areas. This need for the removal was the implementation of the Bantustan Policy. The Bantustan Policy was directed towards rural resettlement, urban resettlement, and resettlement within the Bantustans. These resettlements were to direct blacks from designated white urban land and areas, which led to a superfluous amount of farm laborers. By the beginning of the 1980s, almost 60% of the African population was based in the Bantustans (Kristen Henard). The black spots or communities the blacks were forced into were overcrowded and unsanitary. These communities more or less became the dumping grounds for unwanted blacks, namely the elderly, women and children. The Black (Urban Areas) Consolidation Act amended in 1952, those Africans with the section 10 right had the right to remain there only if they were born in the area, and had lived there continuously, worked for one employer for more than ten years, or lived lawfully and continuously there for 15 years. For others, there was a 72 hour limit for visitation in the white areas. The influx control regulations of the Consolidation Act were furthered in the 60s when the labor was needed in agricultural areas, rather than industries. These regulations went along with the Bantustan dumping grounds, and the unproductive and redundant workers. In 1986, the Abolition of Influx Control Act was created to replace the Consolidation Act of 1952. The system of influx control regulating and controlling the movement and residential rights of Africans and the subsequent further restrictions or relaxations must be tied to the political environment and the economic needs of the white capitalists. As the towns are centers of wealth and power and the majority rule movement was strongest in the towns, a permanent African population in the towns was perceived as rising political and security problems. In general the influx control regulation. aimed at reducing the number of Africans living permanently in the towns as much as possible so as to reduce the concomitant political threat they pose This amended both the 1951 Prevention of Illegal Squatting Act and the 1979 Slums Act, providing the essential administrative controls that could be used for population and African urbanization control. The 1923 Black Act was also influenced by apartheid, made to segregate the urb an African population. On the other hand, the 1986 amendment to the Prevention of Illegal Squatting Act provided for the possibility of controlled squatting because it allowed the minister of Constitutional development and planning to designate land for this purpose and make suitable regulations related to the provision of services and a form of local government. The government thus acknowledged the ultimate impossibility of eradicating all squatters and at the same time the positive effects of this type of low cost housing considering the extreme housing shortage in the urban areas. This provision can also be interpreted as another attempt to divide and disorganize the dominated and oppressed class by giving preferential treatment to a certain group of squatters so as to induce a positive attitude towards the apartheid regime whereas all the other squatters still lived under the threat of conviction and eviction. They then continued to control that population with the Group Area Ac t, facilitating control over the black urban population. This act attempted to hamper organization among the oppressed urban working class. Also, the segregated townships were placed on the outskirts of cities. This was facilitated so that the blacks were away from sensitive business centers, and to control political and economic faces of the towns. At one point in the forced removal era, the implantation of the many racially based laws resulted in 87% of the total land area of South Africa being owned by the white minority, whereas 13% was set aside for the 5 to 1 black majority. This made obvious the intentions of the government, to make sure the black majority was run and controlled by the white minority. Throughout the segregation, there was series of peaceful demonstrations, along with violent ones. In 1985, over a period of four days Africans resisted being moved from their home, Crossroads, South Africa, to the new government- run Khayelitsha Township. Eighteen people were killed during the movement, and 230 were injured. The apartheid system can be described as state action designed to secure and maintain white domination by furthering white political and economic interests through control over the black majority population. The mechanisms of population control used, include the panoply of forced removal intended to control, divide and segregate the people of South Africa. Forced removals have occurred in different historical times with different functions and guises. Ultimately the whole process can be traced back to the structures of black economic exploitation and white political domination inherent in the apartheid regime. The process of change began with the election of Willem de Klerk as leader of the National Party in February 2, 1989, his subsequent presidentship, and more specifically his speech on February 2, 1990 as he announced the repeal of apartheid legislation, the democratization of the state system, the normalization of the political process, and the multi-party negotiation process for a new Constitution. The latter was eventually set up in December 1991 under the name Congress for a Democratic South Africa. After a suspension in June 1992, the negotiations resumed in early 1993 and resulted in an agreement on the details of a transitional Constitution, including 34 Constitutional principles against which the final constitution will be tested, and the arrangements necessary to ensure free and fair elections set from April 26 to 28, 1994. The then elected transitional parliament, acting as a Constitutional assembly, would begin to draw up a final Constitution. The forced removals of South Africa were heavily influenced by apartheid, meaning the white minority controlling the black majority. The struggle between equality and segregation originated when the white settlers first arrived in Africa, but finally concluded in the 90s. There are many causes, from regulations and acts, to the white supremacy. Although it ended, the effects still remain. Many South Africans still live in insanitary slums, having been forced and never left.

The Illusion of Tradition in Jacksons The Lottery Essay -- Shirley Ja

The Illusion of Tradition There is a Lottery going on today and we all hold a ticket. In â€Å"The Lottery† Shirley Jackson is asking people to stop for a moment and take a look at the traditions around them. Shirley Jackson uses symbolism to show that traditions today are sometimes as misguided as the tradition of the lottery in that small town in Somewhere, USA.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Evil can be evoked in the most kind-hearted person if tradition deems it ok. Though the years there have been many wars in which many men have fought, and killed. If not put in a war torn environment the men in those wars would never have killed anyone. School children continually bully each other, sometimes to the point of serious injury. Otherwise kind, loving children, gain strength through numbers and, as a group encourage each other, making it ok to torment another. Usually a much weaker and shy child is on the receiving end of this torment. The children in â€Å"The Lottery† symbolize how humans have a duel nature that allows usually friendly people to become violent when put in the right situation with the right conditions. â€Å"On a beautiful day in June the young children choose there stones. Bobby Martin had already stuffed his pockets full of stones, and the other boys soon followed his example, selecting the smoothest and roundest stones; Bobb y and Harry Jones and Dickie Delacroix-- the villagers pronounced this name "Dellacroy"--eventually made a great pile of stones in one corner of the square and guarded it against the raids of the other boys.†(255) People in this small town are the same as in any small town, but when empowered with numbers and a tradition that deem it ok, evil shows it’s ugly face.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Today tradition is a strong part of out lives. We do not have any traditions that are as extreme as the lottery, however â€Å"The Lottery† symbolizes that relevance can be lost over time. Take the Bible for example, it has been written and rewritten several times over thousands of years, translated from one language to another and then to another. Even over the relatively short period of time in â€Å"The Lottery† many thing had been lost from there tradition. â€Å"At one time, some people remembered, there had been a recital of some sort, performed by the official of the lottery, a perfunctory, tuneless chant that had been rattled off duly each year; some people believed that the official of the ... ...obody work any more, live that way for a while. Used to be a saying about 'Lottery in June, corn be heavy soon.'† (258) â€Å"There's always been a lottery," he added petulantly.† (258) Tradition is so strongly rooted that it is tied to the fertility of the land and how well a year’s crop will be. Each and every day we face life with the chance that we may not make it through the day. The black box in â€Å"The Lottery† symbolizes the fact that we are mortal beings and just as easy as not we may die any given day. â€Å"Mr. Graves had selected the five slips and put them in the box, and he dropped all the papers but those onto the ground, where the breeze caught them and lifted them off.† (259) Automobile accidents, cancer, heart attacks, any number of things could happen to anyone any time as easy as the slips of paper fell into the box. The slips falling into the box and the wind blowing the others away symbolizes how random life really is with respect to death. Live your life full and pray the wind blows for you. Works Cited Jackson, Shirley. ?The Lottery.? Literature: An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, and Drama. Ed. X.J. Kennedy and Diana Gioia. 6thed. New York: HarperCollins, 1995.

Article Critiques on Counseling Theory

The conduct and process of psychoanalysis are sometimes defined by selfobject transferences that ‘mirror’ the true mind and feeling of the person concerned. In the first example, it is revealed that patients sometimes express ‘cross-sectional snapshot’ when they crave for recognition or admiration, as an effect of not feeling proud with their accomplishments. This ‘opening move’ would progress towards a convergence and then would progress resolutely, while the psychoanalyst deals with the pathognomonic selfobject transference that is reflected in the analytic atmosphere, to come up with the development of ‘trust’ and a ‘feeling of safety’.Analytic relationship needs contribution from each of the individuals, which is why, in the process, accepting, understanding and explaining past experiences are detrimental for a successful psychoanalysis. Understanding the fantasies, needs and demands leads to empathy. In the second example, it was described how patients’ responsiveness stems from accepting ‘their’ reality (Ornstein, 1998, par. 22) as well as accepting ‘their’ meanings and functions of reality (Ornstein, 1998, par. 24). PREMISE: The process of empathy is the best way to conduct clinical psychoanalysis.PROCEDURE: Centrality of the concept of the selfobject transferences was emphasized by means of defining the nature of the process, by focusing on the experiences of the patients, and by coming up with some general statements made out of the details. FINDINGS: Empathy and selfobject transferences are the basis of self psychology. REACTION: This is reasonably true, since psychological treatment can only be successful with both ends (or individuals) meeting at a common point. ARTICLE: Ornstein, P. H. (1998). My current view of the psychoanalytic process. Retrieved April 2, 2007, from the Psychology of the Self database: http://www.selfpsychology. com/1998conf/abstrac ts/pre_Conference_Ornstein. htm. Article Critique #2: Existential theory SUMMARY: The essence of the soul rests on ‘self-motion’, while its reversal rests on passivity (Riker, 2003, par. 13). As disintegrating forces would lead to passivity, then ethical breaks the repression made by passivity, so that there is self-motion and life in the soul. As reason and virtues control desires and emotions, then it leads to growth, development and actualization. However, in the modern concept of the soul’s life, â€Å"[l]ife is that which must disrupt itself in order to live† (Raiker, 2003, par. 18).It must be a free spirit that lives with the will-to-power soul of a child, which exceedingly values life itself†¦ the willingness to live, as life is the motion of the soul. This defines chaos as the proper breeding of a soul’s life, meaning that the most alive soul in the modern era is the ‘alienated individual’ that experiences struggle and isol ation. HYPOTHESIS: There are different versions on how a soul may be able to achieve its life to the fullest, some of which are under self-motion, passivity and chaos. PROCEDURE: Findings come from the classical and modern conceptions of the soul’s life, as well as some ecological resolutions.FINDINGS: Classical theories are very much opposite to the modern theories of today. What deeply nourishes the life of the soul now appears to be under the event of chaos and disruption. But as this means developing a self or ‘I’ that is capable of living in reality without repression or submission, the soul should choose its own way of living, which may be a multitude of various ways and paths. REACTION: I agree that diversity should be valued by all means. This implies that there is no single way in which a soul may live to the fullest. It depends on state of reality. ARTICLE: Riker, J. H. (2003).The life of the soul: an essay in ecological thinking. Retrieved April 2, 200 7, from the Psychology of the Self Online database: http://www. psychologyoftheself. com/papers/riker. htm. Article References: Ornstein, P. H. (1998). My current view of the psychoanalytic process. Retrieved April 2, 2007, from the Psychology of the Self database: http://www. selfpsychology. com/1998conf/abstracts/pre_Conference_Ornstein. htm. Riker, J. H. (2003). The life of the soul: an essay in ecological thinking. Retrieved April 2, 2007, from the Psychology of the Self Online database: http://www. psychologyoftheself. com/papers/riker. htm.

Test Tube Thunderstorm Chemistry Demonstration

Test Tube Thunderstorm Chemistry Demonstration You can react chemicals to produce what looks like a thunderstorm in a test tube. This is a spectacular chemistry demonstration that is suitable for chemistry class or lab. Safety You must be careful with this demonstration and keep any students away from the setup. It involves corrosive acid, flammable alcohol or acetone, and a slight chance of glassware shattering as a result of the vigorous chemical reaction. The test tube thunderstorm demonstration should only be performed by qualified individuals, wearing full protective gear and using proper safety precautions. Materials 95% alcohol (any type) or acetonesulfuric acidpotassium permanganateglass pipettetest tube Perform the Demonstration Wear gloves, a face shield, and protective clothing. Pour some alcohol or acetone into a test tube.Use a glass pipette to introduce a layer of sulfuric acid below the alcohol or acetone. Avoid any mixing of the two liquids, since the demonstration wont work if too much mixing occurs. Do not handle the test tube beyond this point.Drop a few crystals of potassium permanganate into the test tube.Turn out the lights. The sulfuric acid and the permanganate react to form manganese heptoxide, which explodes when it comes into contact with the alcohol or acetone. The reaction looks a bit like a thunderstorm in a test tube.When the demonstration is concluded, inactivate the reaction by using metal tongs to place the test tube into a large container of water. Be very careful! There is a chance the test tube could shatter.