Describe your professional goals and how your chosen major relates to Essay

Describe your professional goals and how your chosen major relates to these goals. Is there a professional in your field of choice who might serve as your role - Essay ExampleThis would cater to mint who want to beautify themselves, fertilise well, and have time for relaxation in this world of rush. I also want to own the Miss Universe Organization. This follows the same trend as mentioned previously. This gives people the opportunity to see, all oer the world, beautiful ladies who also c atomic number 18 about other peoples needs as to when they are asked, what they would like to do.I want to help in various areas of research to help cure some(prenominal) diseases. This research will focus in the following diseases diabetes, leukemia, breast cancer, and human immunodeficiency virus/AIDS. Supporting researchers in these areas will help in prevention measures, maintenance/control, and cure. My desire is to also help combat poverty. There are too many poverty stricken people around the world. Measures to alleviate poverty should be one of the aims entrepreneurs should have while conducting their business. It is clear that corporations make donations and it is also clear that they are tax exempt however, more needs to be done. There is never enough.Working with Adoption Agencies that work with dwarf children and with orphanages is one of my most interests. Children all over the world need attention. They need to feel comfort given their present situations. I would like to build schools in India and in Africa to be in a position to educate children. To give them the opportunities that others take for granted and enjoy.My role model is Donald Trump. He is a wise man, kind, calm, intelligent, thinks quickly, and he is not regularly seen in the tabloids. He is also a successful entrepreneur who owns the Miss Universe Organization.I want to be this kind of person. I want to be an entrepreneur, make donations, wrick part of the process, and see to it that changes ar e made to help others in their crisis. I want to be in a position where decision

An event that is a part of your experience Essay

An event that is a part of your experience - Essay ExampleMy mom warned me about(predicate) feeding the dog especially when its beef bones just bought from the store. On that day, my determination was to do the opposite of what my mother has instructed me. I was driven by the feature that my parents clearly instructed me not to feed the dog.As I walked to our backyard my heart started to beat harder and harder, my stomach grumbled, my legs snarl weak around not able to walk, my hands felt like they could not carry the few pounds of beef. As I got closer and closer to the tree where my dog was resting, I got more and more anxious. Snowy almost looked like a lion facial expression for its prey he slowly lifted its head off the ground as he caught the smell of the unfermented beef, which still had a strong scent of blood. He stood up almost about to attack me but, we both knew hurting each other is not a priority.I came closer and closer, I opened the bag and I saw Snowy drooling a ll over the place ready to eat but looking up at me as if asking for my permission. I said go ahead boy it is for you you look hungry gave him a little pat on the head and took a few steps back. Noticing a bone a little far away, and my dog tied I thought it could not arrive at it, so I pushed the bone where he could reach it. I started tossing the bone back and forth, as I waited for Snowy to eat. Suddenly his animal instincts took over as he lurched to protect his old bone. Within the next 5 seconds, the unexpected happened. My dog bit me, and my leg was bleeding. I did not feel the pain at all it was almost as if a doctor gave me a shot, no pain at all just shocked.I looked at my dog smashing in the eyes I could see his regret, his pain and anger as well as a tear. I loved my dog, but at the homogeneous time hated him for putting me in this situation. Until then I never realized that dogs could cry just as humans did, but that showed me that not precisely that Snowy loved me but also felt the same pain I do when it gets hurt.That

Global Poverty Essay Example for Free

world(a) P overty EssayTo be born into meagreness without a choice is possibly ane of the greatest misfortunes that any person can be victimized with. According to Howard Hubbard author of Fighting Poverty to Build Peace, An estimated 1.4 cardinal hoi polloi live in extreme want, defined as living on less than $1.25 a day. It leaves a person with a huge challenge of survival and an extremely concentrated task of creating a better future for themselves. To understand the implications of impoverishment across the knowledge base, one needs to first thoroughly understand its definition. It is often difficult to rear what the definition of meagreness is, be driving force, being poor, differs dramatically across countries all around the world. According to the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) poverty is defined in twain different ways, human beings poverty and in stick to poverty.1 The definition of poverty from a human development point of view means the denial o f choices and opportunities intimately basic to human development to lead a long, healthy, creative life and to enjoy a decent standard of living, freedom, self-esteem and respect of others, Alters pg 1. According to UNDP human poverty is to a greater extent than income poverty.In numerous an(prenominal) of the poorest nations across the world people die everyday collect to poverty. Poverty proves to be one of main problems that plague the international society. I allow for discuss the different kinds of poverty, the causes and solutions of poverty in the global society. In the global society, poverty makes itself prominent in a variety of categories depending on from each one individual economy. 2The World Bank facts for world poverty reveals that, a higher weigh of people live in poverty than previously thought and this number is increasing day by day. This is the main reason why in most nations today inequality is on a high and this gap is endlessly rising. It is diffic ult to measure national poverty lines across nations because the different classes fetch different percentage of income that is to be spent on food. In some of the most underdeveloped and poorest economies of the world such(prenominal) as Sub-Saharan Africa, Afghanistan and Haiti people live in widespread poverty and dire living conditions.3According to the United Nations make of least developed countries in 2009, 33 were in Africa, 15 in Asia and 1 was in Latin America.4 In other argonas such as practically of Europe and the United States poverty exists, but the gap of comparison is very large in comparison to a county same(p) Angola. Poverty creates a variableness amongnations. That division has been growing now for a century or more. Poor countries are most often sidelined by the richer and more developed ones. This was the case of the closure of countries like India by the British. Rich and powerful countries have the advantage of modern technology and arms to subdue the p oorer ones. Although the United Nations has started economic aiding poor countries they often olfactory perception indebted and dependent on their charity provider.The causes of poverty are many, however some of the main reasons that contribute to poverty in the world are unemployment, privation of education, illiteracy, natural disasters and violence. The combination of all these factors can make any nation poor. This high level of inequality certainly affects the fond cohesion and leads to problems such as increasing crime and violence. It is a matter of fact that effect of poverty is being transferred from generation to generation. Poor people are often dejected and unwell, and due to that theyre unable to work.5 The World Bank estimates that poverty has held at around 25 percent of the population since the mid-1990s. And because of population growth, the number of poor actually change magnitude to around 128 million in the early 2000s.The countries adversely affected by po verty do not progress, as the there is a little way of life for the development of the population. The social and cultural factors of a nation impact the economic situation of a republic. The reasons for poverty differ based on the culture and the social sy shank within a nation. People doneout the world are subjected to poverty, whether its due to illiteracy, unemployment and or a family history issue. A history of poverty in the family leads to many physical as well as mental problems. Poor parents do not have the resources to get their children educated. This results in the children having to deal with a lot of obstacles when trying to get jobs. The discrimination is felt acutely by them as they do not have the required skills to cope. Most often such poverty also leads to abuse. This sometimes results in bad habits in some families, like smoking, drinking and drugs. Improving the price of admission of the poor to assets and services will help them share in, and contribute to , economic growth, says Jaime Saavedra and Omar Arias author of Stuck in a Rut.The environment in the form of natural disasters plays a significant role in the cause ofincreasing poverty in less developed nations. According to Akin Mabogunje the author of Poverty and Environmental Degradation Challenges Within the Global Economy, In many developing countries, inadequate attention is given to environmental get byment in areas occupied by the poor, and therefore, they are exposed to numerous environmental hazards. When a country is affected by many different natural disasters including earthquakes, droughts, floods, landslides, volcanic eruptions, windstorms, and forest fires it completely devastates the poor and greatly diminishes their chances of escaping poverty.6 According to the World Bank two billion people have been affected by Natural Disasters since the mid 1990s. 7 In addition, people in countries that are engaged in some kind of difference or war whether the countries are developed or developing typically experience some kind of economic hardship.8 Armed conflict often makes countries that have a high number of poor much worse. War and conflict often results in a refugee status for many of the most impoverished people in the world. This results in basic denial of human rights such as the right to seek legal employment which further diminishes impoverished condition.9All over the world people affirm the consequences of poverty. It is often seen the effects of poverty is not improving and is continually passed on from generation to generation. This vicious cycle results in families concentrating on what is happening in the current moment, not focusing on the future or on how to better their own lives. People around the world that suffer from poverty concentrate on the basic element of survival like the need for food and shelter. Often making future plans to change the cycle of poverty from generation to generation to become unimportant when a family doesnt have access code to food, water or a place to sleep. 10Democracy starts at home, but the scope, and consequences, of global economic decisions often extend far beyond national borders. The consequences of poverty include lack of opportunities, physical and mental illness, drug abuse and physical abuse, homelessness and illiteracy and lack of educational development, etc.Poverty is the most prevailing problem in the world. In todays society we see that the richer are bonnie richer, while the poor continually sufferfrom increasing poverty. The problem not only lies with the people, but also with the government. The government corruption is the leading problem in the most of the countries, where the funds raised for the benefit of the poor are being used in an illegal and often detrimental way. The government must manage the economic system efficiently and use the funds in appropriate way to solve the issue of poverty. Currently as the poverty has become a world problem, the c ountries should form a union and think for a common solution against this problem. They should scoop out the aid of all the ways to motivate the people to come out of the poverty.The governments can seek help of volunteers to educate and provide the knowledge on health, sanitation and many other factors, where poor families can easily interrelate to. On a global level, organizations like the United Nations need to put in place mandatory policy regarding solutions to poverty. Some of these recommendations include create poverty-focused outside(prenominal) assistance programs that focus of poverty reduction and creating government accountability for poverty. In addition, create policies that focus on reform of trade and agricultural policies to help with sustainable development and protect small farmers and business owners. The United Nations needs to provide political and financial support that fuel peacekeeping missions to reduce violence that impoverishes many nations around the world. Lastly, governments need to promote continual peacekeeping efforts to areas that suffer from continual conflict and poverty to promote sustainable development.11 One of the main solutions to reduce poverty is education and literacy. As illiteracy and education are highly interrelated, people must choose to overcome the illiteracy in the world. As the knowledge increases, the access to employment also increases and use of technology also makes the people more self-sufficient. 12Education also enables the poor and disadvantaged in society to escape poverty through their own efforts, that is, to counter irreversibilitys and poverty traps. People who attain a higher level of education are much less likely to take part in the working poor, opposed to those who have a lower level of education. 13Human development is now part of the equation, meaning that education, health, life expectancy, and other indicators of public assistance are given greater attention. Focusing on immediat e issues and directly on your own domestic problems will diminish poverty across the world and open up possibilities of planning for thefuture.In order for the global society to prosper we need to take notice of ideas like investments in agriculture, healthcare, and education. This idea for global development will create an effective change in the long run.14 Poverty and population growth are very much interrelated. By trim back these two problems improvements can be made in health and the whole well being of society. A goal of the international community as a whole is to improve general health by ensuring sufficient nutrition. 15 In 2004, President Musharraf of Pakistan said that population growth was the main factor retarding economic growth, poverty alleviation, and action on joblessness. Since the population growth keeps increasing the demands for natural resources keeps rising beyond the means of supporting the current population.According to the article Critical associate Po pulation, Health, and the Environment, ninety-nine percent of world population growth is occurring in less developed countries. This means we need reduce global population growth by creating laws that focus on social policy that will encourage smaller families for less developed impoverished nations that cannot sustain large population growth. This policy will reduce the fertility rate, and help slow the growth of the global populations. For example according to Lester Browns article Can We Build A sustainable Economy, Iran, facing both land, hunger and water scarcity, now limits public subsidies for housing, health care, and insurance to three children per family. In Peru, President Alberto Fujimori, who was elected overwhelmingly to his second five-year experimental condition in a predominantly Catholic country, said in his inaugural address in August 1995 that he wanted to provide better access to family-planning services for poor women.Being born into poverty is the worst disad vantage that any human can be at. Combating poverty will take a unified effort on the part of all the worlds nations, especially the ones who are at the helm of international affairs. Organizations like the United Nations will have to be at the forefront and lead the way for the others to emulate. Alongside poverty, well also have to focus on the population growth and pool in efforts to stem it. Although the problem of world poverty is a one of biblical proportions, it is not insurmountable, and it too can be tackled. But it would require perhaps the greatest incorporate effort that mankind has ever witnessed in its history.Such a well organized coordinated effort would not be possible if there is alack of consciousness on a global level. But the basic problem with human kind is that, they restrict their concern to themselves only, without caring much for those who are the victim of a poorer luck. Even if we start taking care of poverty, then we only care about our won nations, ins tead of dealing it on a global level. But all of us should remember that poverty is inhuman and is not constricted to any particular nation. Therefore it would be our duty to contain such inhuman treatment of human race and become less selfish so that we can deal with a serious issue like poverty on a global level.BibliographyHubbard, Howard J. Fighting Poverty to Build Peace. America. 09 Feb. 2009 11. eLibrary. Web. 12 Dec. 2010.De Souza, Roger-Mark Williams, John S Meyerson, Frederick A B. Critical links Population, health, and the environment. Population Bulletin. 01 Sep. 2003 2. eLibrary. Web. 12 Dec. 2010.Kent, Mary M Haub, Carl. Global Demographic Divide. Population Bulletin. 01 Dec. 2005 3. eLibrary. Web. 12 Dec. 2010.Lester R. Brown. We Can Build a Sustainable Economy. Futurist 30. (1996) eLibrary. Web. 12 Dec. 2010.Mabogunje, Akin L. Poverty and environmental degradation Challenges within the global economy. Environment 1(2002)8. eLibrary. Web. 12 Dec. 2010.Saavedra, Jaime Arias, Omar S. Stuck in a Rut. Finance Development. 01 Dec. 2005 18. eLibrary. Web. 12 Dec. 2010.Alters, Sandra M. World Poverty. Detroit, MI Gale, Cengage Learning, 2010. Print.Anderson, Judith. Ending Poverty and Hunger. Mankato, MN Sea-To-Sea Publications, 2010. Print.Shah, Anup. Causes of Poverty. Global Issues, Updated 28 Nov. 2010. Accessed 14 Dec. 2010.9 Hertel, Shareen. The private side of global governance. Journal of International Affairs. 01 Oct. 2003 41. eLibrary. Web. 15 Dec. 2010.Shalendra D. Sharma The Promise of Monterrey Meeting the Millennium Development Goals. World form _or_ system of government Journal 3(2004)51. eLibrary. Web. 15 Dec. 2010.Lancaster, Carol. The New Face of Development. Current History. 01 Jan. 2008 36. eLibrary. Web. 15 Dec. 2010.

A Manifesto for Sustainable Design Essay Example for Free

A Manifesto for Sustain commensurate Design EssayThis pronunciamento proposes an ascend to sustainable see that I am fire in exploring during my time studying architecture. The nous of sustainability is a complex one, non without app bent contradictions. This makes it difficult to define in a wholly satisfactory manner. For the purposes of this manifesto I will advert to the definition proposed by Jason McLennan who asserts that sustainable traffic pattern seeks to maximize the quality of the built surroundings, while minimizing or eliminating banish impact to the internal environment. I find this definition particularly useful in the emphasis which it places on quality. By quality, in this context, I mean an approach to building which emphasises not only thoughtful figure of speech but also the careful use of materials these considerations are crucial to achieve sustainable development.Quality as the architect doubting Thomas Sandell says is always sustainable this holds particularly true if we return to the most basic meaning of that adjective long lasting. My manifesto would involve seven basic considerations a structure should be layered, generous, contextual, connected to nature, innovative, stimulating and idealistic. I propose to examine each of these points in turn, aware that they can be gener everyy grouped nether the heading of sensitivity. As I see it, a untoughened approach to architecture is one that fundamentally responds to the issues of site, user and impact, while not excluding other concerns and all this in a way that is considered, thoughtful and restrained. These, then, are the fundamentals of my approach to design.1. LayeredAccording to T.S Eliot, Genuine poetry communicates before it is downstairsstood I accept the same holds true for genuine architecture. It affects us at a pre-conscious level and its impact transcends the immediate, sensory, effects of the building. As I see it, architecture is not a matter of supe rficial effects. Its must transcend that which is little more than eye-catching gimmickry. A good theoretical account of what I would consider a layered design is Erik Gunnar Asplunds timberland Chapel built in 1922 (Fig. 1).Located on the grounds of the Woodland Crematorium in Enskede outside Stockholm, it was built to accommodate the funerals of children. At first, the chapel seems unremarkable in its elemental simplicity as Simon Unwin puts it without pretentions to being anything more than a rudimentary hut in the woods. However, in quiet and copiously suggestive ways, Asplund imbues this seemingly uncomplicated building with a poetic sense of an ancient and never-ending place for burial. As J.R Curtis puts it, this apparently simple chapel was point by underlying mythical themes to do with the transition from life to death, the procession of burial and redemption and the transubstantiation of natural elements such as water and unaccented. in that location were echoes to o of Nordic burial mounds and of Christs route to Calvary.Fig. 1 Erik Gunnar Asplund, Woodland Chapel, 1922One striking aspect can be found in Asplunds sensitive treatment of the theme of resurrection. The idea is usually made explicit through the use of iconography Asplund, however, evokes the notion of rebirth through his use of insidious association. The Chapel, for example, has only one source of light, which comes from above. The eye is therefore drawn upwards, to the heavens. This effect is accentuated by the pervasive darkness of the building.Like Robert Venturi, Asplund opts for richness of meaning rather than clarity of meaning. As a result, his Woodland Chapel has an uplifting rather than a depressing effect. His Chapel becomes an affirmation of life rather than an acceptance of defeat, and this appeals to me very much. It is no surprise to discover that Asplund himself in a 1940 article on his crematorium building in Byggmstaren referred to the Woodland Cemetery, in w hich the Chapel lies, as a scriptural landscape. Whatever else it is, the Bible is a book of hope.2. chivalrousDesign is people Jane JacobsJane Jacobss fundamental commitment to ordinary human beings is something I admire. Generous architecture offers an approach which puts everyday people at the forefront of the design. This is an inclusive architecture which does not limit itself only to the client and/or private users of the building. aught is excluded. An example of this kind of what might be described as generous architecture can be found in Norwegian firm Snhettas Oslo Opera House on the waters of the Oslo Fjord, completed in 2007 (Fig. 2).Fig. 2 Snhetta, Oslo Opera House, 2007Snhetta are concerned with the social dimension of architecture and this design imaginatively reinterprets the traditional opera houses that conventionally limit their public spaces to exterior plazas or grand lobbies, often only accessible during opening hours. What is striking here is that their Oper a House succeeds in giving back to the city a public space. The sloping rooftop becomes a new public rural area a recreation space and viewing platform that you can walk on, sit on, sunbathe on, even snowboard on. As a result anyone, whether interested in Opera or not, can enjoy the space. The building has been called a social democratic monument by founding henchman of Snhetta, Craig Dykers and one can see why.In a recent television interview, Dykers went on to remark There is a sense of being able to place your feet onto the building that gives you a sense of ownership. At a certain point you no longer see the building as an architects building but as your own building This is the kind of architecture which interests me. The fact that this building is sited in the middle of a highly populated area shows what can be done to help people raging a fuller life including those who provoke no focused interest in the Arts. This approach seems particularly relevant as more and more p eople live in cities and comes as a reminder that a city need not be a soulless, inhuman place.3. ContextualAlways design a thing by considering it in its next larger context a leave in a room, a room in a house, a house in an environment, an environment in a city plan. Eliel SaarinenArchitecture is inextricably rooted to place. An cognisance of context then, would seem to be a sine qua non but unfortunately this is not always the case. An understanding of the social, historical, environmental, cultural and human qualities of a place is vital to building to best effect. Bycontextual, then, I mean an architecture that is sensitive to the history and memory of the site. This would by no government agency exclude an awareness of the buildings that surround it. I admire Alvar Aalto for his understanding of the importance of relating design to the most significant features of the local site the kind of features that are, as Michael Trencher puts it, any physically self-evident or h istorically and culturally relevant. Aaltos design for the Enso-Gutzeit render in Helsinki, (1959-62), affords a good example of this approach (Fig. 3).Fig. 3 Alvar Aalto, Enso-Gutzeit Headquarters in Helsinki, 1959-62 The site for this building was in the old, Neo-Classical centre of the city and Aalto sought to respond to Engels buildings on the harbour and to the Church on a nearby hill. Arising out of his prise for the site, the exceed of Aaltos office building derives both its horizontal and vertical character from the nearby historical buildings, hence its symmetrical, formal faade.A more recent example of contextually sensitive design is afforded by Grafton Architects proposal for the new Faculty of Economics for the University of Toulouse, still under construction. While envisaging their project, the architects walked from one side of the city to the other, gauging the character of the brick facades, the polygonal towers, the transitions from streets to courts and the und erlying spatial patterns. The resulting design offers a sensitive response to the layered history and comical geography of the site. As founding partner Shelley McNamara has put it, the building weaves into the mesh of the city.4. Connected to NatureStudy nature, love nature, stay close to nature. It will neer fail you. rude Lloyd Wright By nature I mean a world predominantly uninterfered with by man. Building in a way that is sensitive to what is natural, its resources and habitats is a key issue in current debates about sustainable design. That verbalise, it is nearly one hundred years since Frank Lloyd Wright offered architectural proposals showing how to live in harmony with the environment. He called this an organic architectureof nature, for nature.Lloyd Wright also understood the connection between nature andwell-being the closer man associated himself with nature, the greater his personal, eldritch and even physical well-being grew and expanded as a direct result of tha t association. It is hard not to agree wholeheartedly with Lloyd Wrights philosophy. As I see it, Architecture must connect to the natural worldnot just in terms of the use of resources or in merely avoiding the negative impact of building on the environmentbut also, as importantly, in terms of what a connection to nature can offer. His design for the Kaufmann Residence at Falling Water provides an obvious example of Lloyd Wrights respect for nature and the natural world (Fig. 4).Fig. 4 Frank Lloyd Wright, Falling Water, 1935At Falling Water, as Neil Levine remarks you do not ask where the house ends and the natural environment begins. This sensitivity is present throughout his oeuvre, so that his buildings often seem to grow out of the environment and never appear at odds with it.5. InnovativeThere is often an assumption that to be truly innovative is to break away from all that went before, to micturate something totally new. I do not agree. As I see it, the most interesting avan t-garde architecture has always been steeped in an understanding of the past times. As T.S Eliot said To be totally original is to be totally bad. Just as every human being comes from parents, so every new idea owes something to what has gone before. While not rejecting the achievements of the past, Le Corbusier understood that new challenges require innovative thinking. He proposed radical ideas to enrich modern living, from private villas to large scale social housing to utopian urban plans.Yet his inexhaustible inventiveness, that heretical habit, driving-force of all his artistic desires was always rooted in an understanding of what had gone before. His 1955 design for the Chapel of Notre Dame du Haut, in Ronchamp, (Fig. 5) provides a good example, though it marked a profound change in direction from his earlier works and a move away from standardization and the machine aesthetic adverted to in Towards a new(a) Architecture. J.R Curtis even suggests that a nostalgia for the gia nt ruins of antiquity began increasingly to show itself in Le Corbusiersimaginatively forward thinking work.Fig. 5 Le Corbusier, Chapel of Notre Dame du Haut, 1955In a manner similar to the approach of Asplund for his Woodland Chapel, Le Corbusier sought to evoke religious emotions through the play of space, light and form rather than relying on traditional iconography. In my opinion, what particularly makes the building raise is its mixture of old and new, its daringly original design linking with an organic awareness of past forms. Curtis suggests a synthesis of influences from Hadrians Villa to the mud buildings from the Mzab in Algeria, to Dolmens and Cycladic buildings, to the Parthenon itself. Out of an awareness of these sources, Le Corbusier manages to invent a new vocabulary. Other examples of this syncretism mixed with an innovative approach can be found in his designs for the Villa Madrot in Le Prdet, the Pavillon Suisse in Paris and the Duval Facory in Saint Die.The res ult has been described as a wholly new formal idiom and one which owes its impact to the combination of the past and the wholly modern. An interesting contemporary comparison is The Sea Organ, in Zadar Croatia by Nikola Baic, built in 2005. The architect consulted master organ makers and Dalmatian precious stone carvers in his wish to create an experimental installation on the quayside to create a natural musical organ powered by the waves of the sea. Underneath its refined white stone steps are 35 musically tuned tubes, through which the waves create random harmonic sounds. This kind of architecture excites me strikingly innovative, yet sensitively grounded to the history of the site and traditions of the local people.6. StimulativeStimulative architecture, I would define as that which lifts the spirit, making us feel more alive. It surprises and challenges us even as it makes us appreciate more the needs it fulfils. Charles Rennie Mackintoshs design for the Glasgow School of Art affords a good example (Fig. 6). Built in both phases from 1897-1899 and 1907-1909, the School still excites not least by its subtle playfulness. Around every corner the visitor is struck by something unexpected.Fig. 6, Charles Rennie Mackintosh, Glasgow School of Art, 1899 On a closer look, a fusion of opposites emerges. Materials range widely and include leaded stained glass, exposed concrete and painted softwood. Their interplay is matched by an unexpected synthesis of light and dark, mass and plane, the old and the new, the solid and the void. As a result, the building imparts what Denys Lasdun calls the brooding air of frozen excitement. The fundamental stress lies in its manipulation of space. It seems to provide an example of what David Brett describes as a kind of poetic workmanship where structure, features, interiors and furnishings become subject to a unifying system of forms, metaphors and unconscious associations.7. IdealisticThis concept ranges widely and includes re spect for people coupled with a hope to advance and uplift. It is the opposite of cynical or purely utilitarian. A building finally is more than something purely functional. It should gravel a spirit and not turn its back on artistic considerations. I would argue that high-mindedness is the underlying principle to all the approaches of the architects above. Even if idealism is a difficult idea to define, it still has a reality and nowhere is it, and conversely the cynical, more obvious than in architecture. The ultimate goal of architecture, said Aalto in 1957,is to create a enlightenment every house, every productof architectureshould be a fruit of our endeavour tobuild an earthly paradise for people. This idea appeals greatly to me and would be one of the basic impulses behind my approach to architecture.ConclusionIn conclusion, the seven points of this manifesto provide an overview of some approaches to sustainable design that I am interested in exploring during my time studying architecture. These basic considerations propose a design that is layered, generous, contextual, connected to nature, innovative, stimulating and idealistic. These approaches can be generally grouped under the idea of sensitivity, that is a respect for people, nature, site andprecedent.Examples of these considerations can be found in the work of architects, both past and present from the timeless profundity of Asplunds Woodland Chapel to the striking innovations of Le Corbusier and more recent examples from Grafton Architects Toulouse Economics Department and Snhettas Oslo Opera House. This is a manifesto for a lasting architecture. The bottom line is that sustainability is not a design aesthetic, as Robert Stern points out it is an ethic, a basic consideration that we have to have as architects designing buildings in 10 years were not going to talk about sustainability anymore, because its going to be built into the core processes of architecture.List of IllustrationsFig. 1 Erik Gunnar Asplund, Woodland Chapel, 1922 (Source http//www.fubiz.net accessed January 12, 2012) Fig. 2 Snhetta, Oslo Opera House, 2007 (Source http//www.mimoa.eu accessed January 12, 2012) Fig. 3 Alvar Aalto, Enso-Gutzeit Headquarters in Helsinki, 1959-62 (Source http//www.fubiz.net accessed January 14, 2012) Fig. 4 Frank Lloyd Wright, Falling Water, 1935 (Source http//www.mimoa.eu accessed January 12, 2012) Fig. 5 Le Corbusier, Chapel of Notre Dame du Haut, 1955 (http//farm4.static.flickr.com accessed January 20, 2012)Fig. 6 Charles Rennie Mackintosh, Glasgow School of Art, 1899 (Source http//www.glasgowarchitecture.co.uk accessed January 12, 2012)BibliographyAllen, Brooks H. (editor), Le Corbusier Essays, Princeton Princeton University Press, 1987 Anderson, Jane, Architectural Design, London Thames Hudson Press, 2011 http//www.architectural-review.com accessed November 22, 2011http//bigthink.com accessed December 12, 2011Blundell Jones, Peter, Gunnar Asplund, London Phaidon, 1995. B lake, Peter, Frank Lloyd Wright Architecture and Space, London Penguin Books, 1964http//www.blackwoodgallery.ca accessed November 11, 2011Brett, David, C.R Mackintosh The Poetics of Workmanship, Cambridge Harvard University Press, 1992 Brooks, Bruce, Frank Lloyd Wright, 1867-1959 Building for Democracy, Hong Kong Taschen, 2006 http//www.coldsplinters.com accessed 22 November, 2011Craig Dykers Interview GRITtv on youtube.com, 12 November, 2011Curtis, William J.R, Modern Architecture Since 1900, London Phaidon, 1996 Eliot, T. S., Dante. in Selected Essays young York Harcourt, Brace and Company, 1950 Elkin, T., McLaren, D. and Hillman, M., Reviving the City towards sustainable urban development, London Friends of the Earth, 1991 Gill, Brendan, Many Masks A Life of Frank Lloyd Wright, stark naked York Putman, 1987 http//www.graftonarchitects.ie accessed October 25, 2011Heinz, Thomas A., The Vision of Frank Lloyd Wright. London Chartwell Books, 2000 Hertzberger, Herman, Space and the A rchitect, Rotterdam 010 Press, 2000 Hoffmann, Donald, Frank Lloyd Wrights Fallingwater The House and Its History, New York capital of Delaware Publications, 1978 Honour, Hugh, A World History of Art, London Laurence King, 2005 http//imodern.com accessed January 22, 2012Jencks, Charles, Le Corbusier and the Continental Revolution in Architecture, New York The Monacelli Press, 2000 Maddex, Diane, Frank Lloyd Wright Inside and Out, London Pavilion, 2002 Middleton, Haydn, Frank Lloyd Wright, New York Heinemann, 2001 McLennan, Jason, The philosophy of Sustainable Design, New York Ecotone Publishing, 2004 Pallasmaa, Juhani, The Eyes of the Skin Architecture and the Senses, Wiley-Academy, 2005 Pearson, Paul David, Alvar Aalto and the International Style, New York Whitney Library of Design, 1978 Quantrill, Malcolm, Finnish Architecture and the Modernist Tradition, London Taylor Francis, 1995 Ray, Nicholas, Alvar Aalto, London Yale University Press. 2005 Ryan, Zoe, Open New Designs for Pub lic Space, New York Princeton Architectural Press, 2004 www.sandellsandberg.se accessed November 22, 2011http//www.spatialagency.net/ accessed November 21, 2011Tempel, Egon, New Finnish Architecture, New York, Washington Frederick A. Praeger, 1968 http//www.treehugger.com accessed November 22, 2011Trencher, Michael, The Alvar Aalto Guide, New York Princeton Architectural Press, 1996 Unwin, Simon, Analysing ArchitectureVenturi, Robert, Complexity and Contradiction in Architecture New York Museum of Modern Art Press, 1966 Wolschke-Bulmahn, Joachim, Places of Commemoration, Washington Dumbarton Oaks, 2001 1 . McLennan, Jason, The Philosophy of Sustainable Design, New York Ecotone Publishing, 2004, p.5 2 . www.sandellsandberg.se accessed November 22, 2011 3 . Eliot, T. S., Dante. in Selected Essays New York Harcourt, Brace and Company, 1950, pp. 199-237 4 . Unwin, Simon, Analysing Architecture, p.255 5 . ibidem p. 256 6 . Curtis, William J.R, Modern Architecture Since 1900, London Ph aidon, 1996, p. 113 7 . Wolschke-Bulmahn, Joachim, Places of Commemoration, Washington Dumbarton Oaks, 2001, p.1016 8 . Venturi, Robert, Complexity and Contradiction in Architecture New York Museum of Modern Art Press, 1966, p.16 9 . Johansson, pp. 59-60 10 . http//www.blackwoodgallery.ca accessed November 11, 2011 11 . Anderson, Jane, Architectural Design, London Thames Hudson Press, 2011, p. 129 12 . Ryan, Zo, Open New Designs for Public Space, New York Princeton Architectural Press, 2004, p. 28 13 . Ibid. p. 29 14 . Craig Dykers Interview GRITtv on youtube.com, 12 November, 2011 15 . Eliel Saarinen, Time Magazine July 2, 1956 16 . Trencher, Michael, The Alvar Aalto Guide, New York Princeton Architectural Press, 1996, p.34 17 . Quantrill, Malcolm, Finnish Architecture and the Modernist Tradition, London Taylor Francis, 1995, p. 122 18 . Tempel, Egon, New Finnish Architecture, New York, Washington Frederick A. Praeger, 1968, p148 19 . http//www.architectural-review.coma ccessed November 22, 2011 20 . http//www.graftonarchitects.ie accessed October 25, 2011 21 . Middleton, Haydn, Frank Lloyd Wright, New York Heinemann, 2001 22 . Brooks, Bruce, Frank Lloyd Wright, 1867-1959 Building for Democracy, Hong Kong Taschen, 2006 p. 12 23 . Ibid. p.

Abuelitas Beans Essay Example for Free

Abuelitas Beans EssayNothing can be more enticing to a nose than waking up to the delicious scent of simmering beans. The scent compels genius to peal away the comforter and stagger into the kitchen for a bowl of creamy delicious beans. Pinto beans have been a staple in Mexican cuisine for hundreds of years, and every family has his/her own recipe. I rec each, as a young girl growing up in a large, Mexican family, that in that respect was always a large pot of legumes ready to nourish twelve mouths for less than five-dollars. Dad always ended his meal rubbing his barrel subscribe while saying his favorite aphorism, Pansa llena, corazon contento (Full belly, happy heart), which always meant that the beans were delicious. Here is Abuelitas recipe to fill the tummy of those that atomic number 18 lovely to ones heart. Cooking beans really is not that hard. First, gather the supplies needed one, five-quart slow-cooker with a ceramic liner with a glass lid cover, a knotty plasti c cooking spoon ( Abuelita always said that one should never stir the beans with a metal spoon or they will stick and burn.I adjust her. ), one-pound dried pinto beans, one-half olfactory propertytic white onion, two fresh garlic cloves, water, and two tablespoons kosher salt.Several people have asked me, Why a slow-cooker? Well, all the women in the family cook the legumes in a cazuela (an earthenware pot made of clay). The cookware is either given to the bride at her wedding with hopes that her culinary endeavors will produce a happy marriage, or it is an inheritance from her mother or grandmother.The beans have a better discretion if cooked in the cazuela, at least that is what the women in my family declare. I on the other hand, embrace the beauty of the slow cooker it frees me to leave the house to run errands, and I have never endured stinky-burned beans. Once all the supplies and ingredients have been gathered and prepped, ascend by placing beans in a colander. Rinse the beans and run them through ones hands to make sure debris is washed away, and small stones are picked out. Put the beans into the slow-cooker and cover them with water.Furthermore, add all the ingredients in the cooker. Except for the salt. Set the temperature at high for six to eight hours. After one hour, the earthy aroma starts to penetrate the whole house, reminding one of what will be for consumption. Please, if you want plump beans do not stir the beans during the first two hours. After approximately cardinal hours, check to see if water is needed, due to water evaporation, and the legumes absorb a lot of water. Always add hot water never refrigerant because the cold temperature lowers the heat and toughens the beans.Once another three hours has past, test the legumes for doneness. I was told when one bites into a bean, it should be soft and creamy. As a result from respecting the process, and not perturbing them, the pot liquid will have thickened leaving a delicious dark chocolate color broth for a healthy soup. Lastly, nevertheless not least, it is time to salt the beans. Add two tablespoons of kosher salt and stir with a wooden or plastic spoon. Go ahead and taste the broth and decide if more salt is needed.Always remember to gradually add salt to the beans since adding is easier than extracting. In the end, set the temperature to warm and ladle beans into the bowl of ones choice. In conclusion, if an individual follows these simple steps of gathering supplies, for example, a slow-cooker, it will make the process of cooking worry free. Basically, pinto beans are easy to make, but easier to consume any time of day, resulting in everyone rubbing his/her tummys with contentment. Buen Provecho (Enjoy your meal).

Critical Analysis of Business and IT (BIT) Alignment

Critical Analysis of Business and IT ( flake) AlignmentAbstractThis account is a critical analysis of twain academic physical compositions from peer-reviewed journals, each investigating the Business and IT ( human action) concurrence depicted object that has been a top tinge for IT practiti nonpareilrs for cardinal decades (Cahn, 2000). The papers stupefy been selected as they drag contrasting look strategies qualitative and duodecimal. The objective of this analysis is to highlight the corroborative/negative points in both papers in terms of the inquirys perplex, objectives, design, and method and to draw a bead on an alternative search strategy for each paper.The investigation concludes that both papers had positive and negative points, regardless of their philosophical positions and design strategies. Choosing between qualitative and denary methods or mixing them depends on the ponders questions both methodologies have their strengths and weaknesses. The main fill out for some(prenominal) research is the credibility of its findings, regardless of the researchers philosophical position.Introduction and Analysis social cheekThis paper is a critical analysis of dickens academic papers from peer-reviewed journals, each investigating the Business and IT ( twist) coalescence topic that has been a top concern for IT practitioners for two decades. (Cahn, 2000) For m both years, a number of researchers have emphasised the importance of BIT fit in organisations to achieve competitive advantage (Luftman et al., 2005). Reich Benbasat (1996) define alignment as the degree of IT strategy necessary to support a businesss mission, objectives and plans.M both studies have been conducted to understand and assess the human birth between business and IT in organisations, near of which have adopted a three-figure methodology to validate empirically the relationship between IT investment and organisational performance and to provide credible eviden ce of the positive impact of aligning IT strategy to business strategy. Therefore, it was herculean to find a good qualitative research paper in this bea (Cahn, 2000). The first paper (paper 1), entitled Understanding the business-IT relationship (Coughlan et al., 2005), follows a qualitative methodology and the second paper (paper 2), entitled Factors affecting IT and Business alignment a comparative study in SMEs and large organisations (Gutierrez et al., 2009), follows a quantitative methodology.It is important to note that this work is not a comparison of the two papers therefore, the papers atomic number 18 analysed one after another to achieve a clearer picture. This paper is organised in the following way. Section 3 c everywheres paper 1, highlighting its positive/negative points in terms of the researchs aim, objectives, design, and method. In addition, an alternative research strategy is proposed. Section 4 covers paper 2 in a similar way. The conclusions and implicati ons of adopting different research strategies are discussed in share 5.Paper 1IntroductionThis paper provides an insight into the Business and IT (BIT) relationship (alignment) in organisations taking a communication-based view on the concept of BIT alignment (Coughlan et al., 2005303). In other words, it provides mise en sceneual insight into the BIT relationship, with particular reference to the organisational communication process. The authors noted that organisations need to develop and sustain a strong BIT relationship to benefit from the value-added development in todays demanding economy. BIT alignment is a complex process that involves creating many crossover links between different separate of the organisation and requires a strong BIT relationship. However, this relationship has suffered a divide that stems from the failure to justify high IT expenditure compared to business benefit. According to Coughlan et al. (2005), communication problems are the main contributor to the BIT relationship divide therefore, a social-oriented approach was proposed to understand the flow of information in organisations. This is an interpretive research paper adopting a compositors case study strategy with which to collar and analyse qualitative data via semi-structured interviews, in order to achieve an in-depth understanding of the communication process in the BIT relationship context. The lack of the literatures attention to communication issues in the BIT relationship context was the driver for this inductive approach (Saunders et al., 2007). research PurposeThe research aim is to provide insight into the Business and IT (BIT) relationship in organisations via the following objectivesIdentifying the areas and issues that affect communications in organisations (Coughlan et al., 2005307).Categorising communication issues in organisations (Coughlan et al., 2005306).Mapping the connections between organisational issues to the way in which they relate to IT (Coughla n et al., 2005306).Investigating how different facets of the communication process interact in real life (Coughlan et al., 2005307).Rationale for conducting this studyThe importance of the research topic was nearly justified by addressing the following pointsCommunication problems within the BIT relationship context are a study concern for both researchers and practitioners (Coughlan et al., 2005).Communication problems are a main contributor to the BIT relationship divide (Coughlan et al., 2005).Poor BIT communications are normal in the financial sector therefore, the banking effort has created a new organisational role the Relationship Manager (RM) to deal with relationship communication problems (Coughlan et al., 2005).Despite the importance of communication within the BIT relationship and implications for the RMs role, there has been little attention given in the literature (Coughlan et al., 2005).Previous social studies (structuration theory and actor network theory) have provided theoretical analyses of the complexity between an organisation and its IT infrastructure, therefore a more practical approach required to empower practitioners with solutions.Research designA four-dimensional communication framework ( vista), based on Shannon Weavers (1994) classic model of communications, was apply to guide the study. PICTURE was originally devised to improve IT system design The acronym PICTURE represents real life communication components and their application (1) companionship and selection (2) Interaction (3) Communications activities (4) Techniques Used for Relationship Establishment. (Coughlan et al., 2005306). The framework was used to guide the identification of important areas in the complex communication process. A understandably articulated conceptual framework is an important tool for guiding semi- structured interview themes, and provides a structured approach to interpreting the findings (Smyth, 2004).The study was conducted on a major hig h street UK bank, referred to as FinCo for reasons of confidentiality. Furthermore, the study was conducted at one point in time, focusing on two key areas of the organisation retail banking and IT. The retail banking division was chosen specifically because it is the biggest customer of the IT division, and research suggests that retail banking has thick organisational divisions (Coughlan et al., 2005).FinCo is an informative case for the following reasonsIt has a rapid and extensive consumption of IT.IT is closely integrated into the organisation to support its information management processes.FinCo starting a relation management programme to facilitate BIT communications.FinCo has separated declare oneself activities, creating a divide.Yin (2003 34-14) defined a case study as an empirical inquiry which investigates a phenomenon within its dynamic real life context to throw in researchers to understand complex issues, especially when the boundaries between phenomenon and con text are not all the way evident.A case study strategy with underlying interpretive philosophical assumptions was an appropriate cream for this study, since the aim of this work is to provide insight into the Business and IT (BIT) relationship in organisations (Coughlan et al., 2005303), adopting a behavioural and social-oriented view, with communication difficulties featuring as a major determinant (Coughlan et al., 2005304).The authors addressed the framework limitation by noting that the framework was used in this study to nominate areas that affect the communication process and not as a whole tonement tool. Recognising and noting the research limitations is always good practice, as it gives future researchers a starting point to continue the study in this area.Research system and Data appealAccording to Coughlan et al. (2005), the communication process is dynamic and complex, involving somebodys with different perspectives. A qualitative data collection method was adopted to provide deep understanding of the processs state, with reference to FinCos retail and IT relationship. This method is appropriate because it focuses on uncovering participants perceptions and experiences, which are difficult to uncover with a quantitative method (Ghauri Gronhaug, 2002).Coughlan et al. (2005) used semi-structured interviews to collect data, which were conducted with top-level managers from both retail banking and IT to capture their perceptions of both organisational areas. Each interview session lasted an hour based on a set of prepared questions and extra questions to flourish on the relevant question. The questions were knowing to probe for experiences, thoughts and opinions relating to BIT relationship perceptions. There was no explanation as to why the semi-structured interview methodology was chosen over unstructured interview or focus group methodologies, which are better suited as unstructured interviews are often used in case studies to uncover inform ation without limiting the field of inquiry (Punch, 2005).Although Coughlan et al. (2005) noted that the interviews cover the spectrum of top-level managers, there was no mention of the sampling method used to justify the chosen number of interviews. My assumption is that the judgemental sampling method was used, since it is a very popular choice in qualitative research and involves the choice of participants who are in the outflank position to provide the required information (Saunders et al., 2007).The authors did not discuss reliability, which is a common criticism of qualitative researches. However, qualitative researches argue that reliability is not an issue in qualitative methodology because research replication is not feasible due to the complexity of the research topic and context. Nevertheless, credibility could have been promoted through any of the following audio recording of the interviews to reduce interviewer bias during data analysis (Ghauri Gronhaug, 2002) providi ng the interviewees with a list of interview themes to allow them to gather supporting organisational documents that could be used as secondary data (Triangulation) using a responder validation technique by submitting research findings to the interviewees to confirm that the findings represent the social reality (Bryman Bell, 2007). alternate(a) Research StrategyThe research problem should always drive the research method (Cryer, 2006). As discussed earlier, the aim of the study is to provide insight into the Business and IT (BIT) relationship in organisations identifying relevant areas and the issues (variables) that affect communications in organisations. A pure quantitative strategy is not an option for this study, as this can only be used when the studys variables are identified clearly. In other words, researchers usually have a very clear idea on what is being measured to begin with they start measuring it. Nevertheless, a mixed methodology can be used to improve confidenc e in findings and to overcome qualitative strategy limitations. merge method studies attempt to bring together methods from contrasting research strategies. The authors could have started with a qualitative research method, e.g. in-depth interviews with BIT managers from different organisational levels followed by a thematic content analysis of the transcribed interview material to help understand and identify communication issues in the organisation. Once they identify the communication areas and issues with reference to the BIT relationship in this organisation, they can test the credibility of the findings by conducting a questionnaire field of study of other BIT managers in other organisations. An online questionnaire with close-ended questions is best here for backup man of administration. Qualitative and quantitative methods can be complementary when used in sequence (Bryman Bell, 2007).SummaryThe research objectives and questions were not explicitly or clearly exhibited i n this paper. In a well structured research paper, a research objective should be clearly defined and expressed within the research direct voice, and it is very important to clearly define the research questions to help form research objectives (Saunders et al., 2007).A comprehensive literature review was conducted to justify the importance of the research topic. A case study strategy with unstructured interviews would have been more suitable for an interpretive approach, but the research method section was very short, which impact transferability qualitative researchers are encouraged to provide a detailed description of their methodology and findings to give others the option of adapting these findings to their environment. For example, a clear mapping between PICTURE components and the semi-structured interview questions would add more credibility to the study (Bryman Bell, 2007).Paper 2IntroductionThe main aim of this study is to identify the organisational size impact on th e way they perceive Business and IT strategic alignment and the relationship between the alignment federal agents and their planning integration strategy (Gutierrez et al., 2009).Gutierrez et al. 2009 noted that IT alignment remains one of the top issues for top-level IT managers, and for the past two decades many studies on Business and IT alignment have been conducted, starting with alignment definition, how to achieve it, factors affecting it, and its value to organisations. Most of these studies provided a theoretical understanding of this process, and a few of them provided practical solutions to measure alignment however, these models could not be generalised as they were case-specific.According to Gutierrez et al. (2009), various alignment factors have been identified, e.g. prior IS success, the communication level between business executives, domain-shared knowledge and planning integration. Most of these studies were based on large organisations.The research approach is po sitivistic, seeking to identify and measure the importance of the business and IT alignment factors (variables) with reference to organisational size. It utilises an appropriate quantitative methodology, i.e. conducting a examine of a sample of top-level management respondents to collect data via an online questionnaire (Saunders et al., 2007).Research PurposeA positive aspect of the study is that the objectives were clearly depicted as belowTo identify whether small, medium and large enterprises have different perceptions as to which of the factors described by Luftman (2000) in the strategic alignment model (surface-to-air missile) are more relevant to attain alignment (Gutierrez et al., 2009198).To identify whether there are any correlations between the factors and the planning integration strategy adopted in the organisations (Gutierrez et al., 2009198).Although the research objectives were clearly defined in this paper, the research questions were not explicitly or clearly exh ibited. Clear research questions leave the reader in no doubt as to exactly what the study seeks to achieve (Saunders et al., 2007).Research designGutierrez et al. (2009) analysed many intellectual alignment assessment models systematically, which were categorised to identify practical models that used data analysis to score factors affecting alignment. The analyses helped to identify four sets of authors Reich Benbasat 2000, Hussin et al. (2002), Chan et al. (2006) and Sledgianowski et al. (2006) whose models are appropriate for the context of the study (see Appendix1). The latters work was based on Luftmans Strategic Alignment Model (surface-to-air missile).The authors demonstrated that a critical literature review was conducted to justify the choice of Luftmans SAM and to include organisational size and planning integration factors, as they were not explored in enough detail. Justifying the above measures is a positive aspect of the paper (Saunders et al., 2007, p.54).Gutier rez et al. (2009) chose SAM as an assessment model for this research for the following reasonsIt can be used to assess any level of alignment in an organisation.It has been validated via Sledgianowski et al. (2006)s extensive study.It covered most(prenominal) of the alignment factors used in the other three models (see Appendix A).The study adopted a comparative cross-sectional design to collect quantitative data from a large number of cases (managers) at a single point of time the data were related to predefined variables (factors and attributes) (Bryman Bell, 2007).Research Method and Data CollectionAn initial questionnaire with twenty-one questions was tested by twenty-two professionals to assess the participants understanding of it. The feedback resulted in changing the questionnaire to include only twelve relevant questions to map to SAM factors communication, competency/value measurement, governance, partnership, scope and skills (Gutierrez et al., 2009203). In addition, the analysis of the pilot test data confirmed the importance of planning integration and its three stages independent, sequential and simultaneous. original testing is crucial to a self-administered questionnaire in order to ensure there are no problems with the questions. Furthermore, it enables the researcher to assess the questions validity and the reliability of the collected data. An extra short questionnaire could have been used to obtain structured feedback (Saunders et al., 2007).Gutierrez et al. (2009) explained that conducting an online survey with a standardised set of questions was appropriate for this study, as there is no room for individual interpretation and it provides easy access to a large number of participants in different geographical locations. This is a positive point in terms of justifying the choice of the research method, but there was no explicit explanation as to the relationship between this method and the implicit positivistic research approach. This i s a general criticism of quantatative papers.While Gutierrez et al. (2009) discussed the reasons for choosing executives, managers and top managers as targeted participants, it was not clear as to whether they were business or IT managers. This distinction should have been made very clear, as the questionnaire was designed to measure both IT and business peoples perceptions of the alignment factors importance, e.g. in the communication factor section of the questionnaire, participants were asked to rate two attributes. The first question rated the understanding of business strategies by the IT department (this should be answered by IT people to accurately represent the reality), while the second question rated the understanding of IT capabilities by the business department (this should be answered by business people) (Gutierrez et al., 2009205). This is a two-way measurement and requires participants from both sides this is an extremely negative point that could affect the findings reliability and validity and could have been avoided by either describing the targeted participants in more depth, i.e. justifying this choice in terms of their suitability to provide representative answers, or by redesigning the questionnaire so that some questions could be answered by different respondent categories.Neither the limitations nor the sampling process are discussed. It is important to follow a sampling process that includes the following sequential activities defining the population, choosing a sampling frame, selecting a sampling method, determining sample size, specifying an operational plan, and finally executing the plan. Following this process will help in achieving a representative sample and accordingly help the researcher to be confident about the studys findings. Another positive outcome of this process is the ability to calculate the response rate, which is a decisive factor in evaluating the reliability of survey results, i.e. findings are seen as more ac curate if the response rate is high. The response rate was mentioned very briefly organisations around the land were requested to participate in the survey by telephone to achieve a better response rate (Gutierrez et al., 2009206). In addition, the data collection section mentioned that a total number of 161 responses were collected and only smash questionnaires were used for data analysis.The questionnaire design was appropriate in terms of including the studys identified alignment factors. It had two parts, the first of which contained questions with regards to the respondents organisational profiles and the level of planning integration. The second part covered the factors prioritisation. Another positive aspect of the research design is that organisational size was defined to achieve harmony when referring to a small, medium or large organisation.Data CollectionThe data collection section was very brief hence it would be very difficult to replicate the study. Moreover, the ph rase organisations around the world (Gutierrez et al., 2009205) is a very weak description of the population. According to Gutierrez et al. (2009), a total number of 161 responses were collected and only 104 complete questionnaires were used for the data analysis. The data collection section should be detailed to allow for replication, which provides some assurance of the results validity, reliability and generalisability. In addition, Gutierrez et al. (2009) used the term survey instead of questionnaire on more than one occasion throughout the paper. It should have been noted that there is a clear distinction between a survey and questionnaire the first is a method and the second is a tool used for this method (Saunders et al., 2007).Alternative Research StrategyThe research strategy should always be driven by the research aim. An interpretive qualitative strategy is not applicable in this study, as the main objective of this study is to measure the relationship between well-defin ed variables. Qualitative methods are used mainly to study human behaviour and behaviour changes, and are more applicable if the research topic is new and there is not much in the literature to guide the researcher. As discussed earlier, many studies on Business and IT alignment factors have been conducted for the past two decades, during the process of which the alignment factors have been identified.SummaryThis paper is well structured in general and the research objectives clear. However, the research questions did not explicitly present the research strategy. The research design had a few negative points, e.g. a targeted population and the size were not defined clearly. Ideally, research papers should include a measure and measurement section to address the targeted population, concept indicators and instrument reliability and validity. However, not all researchers follow the recommended practices, e.g. some rarely provide information about perceptual constancy tests and measur ement validity and only 3% of research papers provide measurement validity information (Bryman Bell, 2007). The data collection method is appropriate for achieving the research objectives, as conducting a survey is a popular choice amongst positivist methods. Nevertheless, a clear justification for the choice of this data collection method in the light of the research design would add more credibility to the paper. No attention was given to error control, e.g. sampling-related and data collection errors. The best part of the paper is the abstract section, which is very structured and clear.Additional structured interviews with Business and IT executives in other similar organisations, utilising the same questions used in the questionnaire, would help in overcoming the above gaps and confirm the studys findings.ConclusionTwo research papers that followed contrasting research methodologies were analysed critically. Both papers had positive and negative points, regardless of their phi losophical positions and design strategies. In any credible research paper, well-defined and clear objectives are vital, as they should lead the research design and, consequently, the method. Hence, defining the research problem is the first and most important step of the research process, as it is highly likely that an unsuitable research design and method will be selected if the research problems are not defined clearly. Choosing between qualitative and quantitative methods or mixing them depends on the studys questions both methodologies have their strengths and weaknesses. For example, qualitative research provides complex textual descriptions of peoples behaviour that sanctimoniousness be provided by a contrasting methodology, since quantitative research focuses frequently on the study of meanings in the form of attitude scales.The main issue of any research is the credibility of its findings, regardless of the researchers philosophical position. This can be achieved by utilis ing multi methods (data collection triangulation within the same research strategy) or mixed methods (qualitative followed by quantitative and vice versa) (Saunders et al., 2007). Researchers are trying to find effective ways to incorporate elements of the contrasting strategies to ensure the accuracy of their studies. As a result, mixed, or combined, methodology research is becoming increasingly popular in the business and management field (Bryman Bell, 2007).

Indian Camp

Indian CampMikolaj Marciniak essay om indian camp(While writing this essay I didnt have my book with me, so I had to find the story online. Therefore I did not include any line-page references I gave examples from the text instead)Growing up can vary from country to country, from city to city, and from family to family. In this case, we have a little boy named knap, who is the main character in Indian Camp, and who is under the process of growing up and he is experiencing it the hard way. The other main motif of the story is life and death, as the sick Indian lady gives birth to a child, and her husband commits suicide because of her sufferings and maybe some other reasons. There ar three main characters in the story Nick, a young child, Nicks dad, a medical doctor, and Uncle George, Nicks uncle. Nowhere in the story is it stated that they argon white (Caucasian) nor that they ar related to each other. The reader might get a different impression due to the use of the word Uncle. However let us put one across that they are of Indian descent. In Indian societies, words like uncle and auntie have the same meaning as words in American societies mister and misses. anticipate that Nick and his Dad are Indians, this might explain why Nicks dad doesnt have anesthetic or proper cutting tools, such as scalpels or sutures.Oh, Daddy, cant you give her something to make her stop screaming? asked Nick. No. I havent any anesthetic, his cause said. But her screams are not important. I dont hear them because they are not important.It is because Native Americans do not always agree with modern society technologies they rely on their strong faith when it comes to medical curing and rejuvenation. disregarding of how one would interpret Nicks dads job, it is unargu fit that although he is very good at his job, he has also limited equipment, meaning that he and his son might thence be of Indian descent. As stated before, Nicks father appears to be an educated person that i s helping his under-educated society. For a very long time ago a doctor was just as important as the leader of a tribe. In some cases even more so. Everybody followed his directions without question even though the methods were in most cases ridiculous. Nowadays this authority has been minimized and doctors ways often become questioned and they are simple ordinary great deal. In Indian Camp Nicks father is presented as an ordinary person, with nobody bowing down or kneeling to him. Nicks father appears to be a very simple person with ordinary hobbies such as fishing. This is shown in the text by Nick operating the lady with a jack-knife, which is normally used for gutting a fish.Thats one for the medical journal, George, he said. Doing a caesarean section with a jack-knife and sewing it up with nine-foot, tapered gut leaders.Another example in the text that emphasizes this is when Nicks father rows the boat back home, just like people after a long day of fishing. Nick rowing the b oat is also another proof of them be Indian, although this is not presented directly in the text. It is because if Nick and his father were white, the guides would have surely rowed them back home. Where did they go, by the way? Uncle George is a slightly controversial character. Everybody seems to know him around the camp. It is known that when women give birth and the father is near them, they usually scream at the father. In Indian Camp, the mother bites George, reflecting the mentioned behavior in some way. In return, George calls her squaw bitch which could be a sign of intimacy. If all this evidence isnt enough to prove my point that George might be the father, he also gives out cigars, which is a well known usance. Last but not least, the reason the husband commits suicide is not just the screaming but because his wife is giving birth to a cocker that is not his.The Indian lay with his face toward the wall. His throat had been cut from ear to ear. The blood had flowed down into a pool where his body sagged the bunk. His head rested on his left arm. The open razor lay, edge up, in the blankets. The last sentence of the citation above can be confusing. Razor? This cutting tool is reasonably newer than a jack-knife, what is it doing in hands of a person that is apparently poorer than the doctor? Could Uncle George have had relations with the mother for money? If so, he might have been able to afford a razor and then give it to the poor Indian, knowing that he would use it to kill himself. In conclusion, I would like to state that in that respect are many ways for the reader to interpret the story. Hemingway consciously wrote the story in a manner that only a little percentage is being exposed to the reader, meaning that we have to assume a lot and conclude Hemingways thoughts to make the story complete. According to me, the two main themes are growing up and life and death. The story gives two different messages horrors of growing up, and reasons for committing suicide. In both messages, Hemmingway warns us indirectly against the mistakes parents can make unknowingly while raising their children, and what treason can lead to if my theory was right, the husband committed suicide because the mother cheated, the suicide therefore results in another childs life being destroyed.