Prioritizing It Project Management Portfolio free essay sample

The realities of shrinking IT budgets and increasing dependence on IT in organizations in recent years has resulted in a situation in which there is an intense competition for resources needed to execute and complete IT projects. According to Ross (2007), the shrinking IT budget in the face of increasing demand has brought new pressures to the IT function. To gain approval and funding for projects, IT departments must demonstrate that such new project will either result in cost saving, increased sales, or result in greater enterprise-wide efficiency (Ross, 2007). The intense competition for resources makes it imperative that IT managers need to prioritize their projects in order to gain approval and funding. To help them effectively prioritize, many IT managers have embraced IT project portfolio management strategies to enable them insightfully decide what project should get funding and what projects should be postponed, shelved, or cancelled. What is Project Portfolio Management? Essentially, Project Portfolio management enables organizations to align their IT and application development projects, resources, and initiatives to corporate business objectives by developing and monitoring measures that treat IT assets as financial assets and to run as a project-oriented business (Reddy, 2004). We will write a custom essay sample on Prioritizing It Project Management Portfolio or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page This statement is supported by Ross (2007), in his submission that many CIOs and IT project managers are applying the principles of investment portfolio management to managing IT project portfolios. This implies that Project Portfolio Management enables IT managers to manage IT project portfolios as one would manage a portfolio of diverse financial investments. Goal of Project Portfolio Management : The goal of PPM is to identify and prioritize the projects within an organization, to ensure that appropriate resources can be applied in a timely manner. This is done through the establishment of systems that provide status report on going and pending projects to enable optimal allocation of resources to complete projects that support the organizations strategic plan. PPM enables integrated management of pipeline, scope, time, resource, skills, cost, procurement, communication, reporting and forecasting, and risk management functions (Reddy, 2004). * This paper will now attempt to prioritize IT projects in the project portfolio of the New York based company XYZ Incorporated. Company XYZ Inc. is a New York-based garment production company that has been in business for over 30 years. The sad events of September 11, 2001 brought hardships and and a drop in business volumes for organizations in the New York downtowm and Midtown areas. This combined with the resulting depression and an unpredictable global economy to undermine business growth in the USA in general and New York City in particular. To improve its market share and profitability, the company would like to invest in an Enterprise Resource planning system, E-mail exchanger system, Database system, and upgrade its Network infrastructure. * Because of the bad economy, the organization cannot afford to fund and support all four projects at the same time. The C. E. O has therefore asked the CIO to prioritize the projects and let him know which one should be implemented first and the order in which the remaining projects will be implemented while maintaining alignment with the organization’s overall strategy. The criteria for this prioritization will consider the ability for the projects to drive and create more revenue for the corporation, Cut operating costs, governmental mandates, and whether the organization’s competitors have implemented these technologies. A scoring system will also be developed weighting each criterion. In some IT projects, all may apply. Provide your analysis by observing how you evaluate each project in comparison to how the target organization evaluates each project. * To properly rank and prioritize the projects in its portfolio, the IT department has to utilized a point ranking system. Points were assigned to each project on a scale of 1 -10. The higher a project scores on this point system the better the chances of its being a priority for execution.

Business Information Systems Essays

Business Information Systems Essays Business Information Systems Essay Business Information Systems Essay An evaluation of Apple Inc’s use of information systems through its website apple. com/ Introduction In the highly competitive world of business the ability to understand and make use of information systems can provide substantial benefits to an organization. The diversification of consumer taste and competition has put pressure on organizations to focus on customer involvement and business information systems have proven to be a versatile and useful tool in order to achieve this. Strategic information systems have the potential to allow an organization to gain a competitive advantage by accessing new markets and providing a more efficient and faster form of communication between managers. By improving communication within the organization, strategic information systems have the potential to reduce the cost of advertising, delivery, design and manufacturing. The purpose of this essay is to evaluate the use of information systems in consideration of Apple Incorporated’s website. About Apple Inc. Founded by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak, the company was incorporated on January 3, 1977, under the company name Apple Computers. Initially the multinational company predominantly dealt as a manufacturer of personal computers, however in 2001 following the successful release of the iPod, the company established itself as a credible competitor within the consumer electronics industry. By 2010 Apple Inc had surpassed Microsoft in terms of market capitalization to become the largest technology company in the world. Apple Inc now provides 13 core products, including desktop computers, laptop computers, a tablet computer, a mobile phone range, a range of portable media players and a home media player. In addition, the company also provides accessories for all of its core products, as well as server and networking solutions. Furthermore Apple Inc provides both tangible products, as listed above, and intangible digital media through its software ‘iTunes’ and more recently via the newly launched ‘App Store’. Over 10 billion songs and applications have been downloaded via Apples software based digital media outlet and within the first quarter of 2010 Apple had sold 3. 36 million Macintosh computers, 8. 7 million iPhones and 21 million iPods (Apple Inc. ). As with other consumer electronics companies Apple Inc provides a comprehensive after sale support service including hardware, software and educational services through its websites and retail outlets. Apples main manufacturing facilities are located within China along with the majority of its suppliers of electrical components such as Foxconn Technology Group. The company has in excess of 70 offices worldwide with 46,600 permanent employees (United State Securities and Exchange Comission, 2010). Apple Inc’s current business model encompasses three broad categories those being, software engineering, hardware manufacturing and retail. The company operates across a multi-channel platform of commerce selling to customers through the use of its website, software based digital media outlet, official retail stores and franchised retail stores. In terms of e-commerce Apple acts as a content provider through iTunes the App Store, an online service provider through its ‘mobile me’ subscription service, an online marketplace providing an environment in which buyers and sellers can meet to procure apple targeted accessories, e-tailing in providing official apple products and social networking services through ‘Ping’ as well as its online support discussion boards. The company is also actively involved in M-commerce through mobile software on its portable media players, tablet computers and mobile devices using the iTunes store and App Store. In order to reduce time between the point of sale and delivery, Apple has made use of a Just In Time approach, in turn reducing inventory costs. The JIT production technique is an integrated socio-technical inventory management system famously pioneered by the Toyota Motor Corporation. Website interface and usability Apples website makes use of a monochromatic colour scheme providing a white backdrop whilst displaying product images in colour. This enables Apple to draw its customers towards the products rather than distracting them with an overly complex or distracting layout, a technique mirrored in their advertising campaigns. The aesthetics of their website closely follows the design of their core products with the use of monochromatic colours and gentle gradients to give the illusion of aluminium. Apple has strived to provide simplistic and stylish design and their website is no exception. The design of the website is a conscious effort in an attempt to unify the sense of style and design across Apples product lines and points of customer contact whilst giving the user the perception that the interface is simplistic and easily accessible. Individual pages are well structured giving the user the perception that the information displayed on the page flows which in turn reduces the likelihood that the user will lose interest or have difficulties in navigating the site. Apple is extremely successful and well known for its marketing techniques, its website is used as another point of contact for customers providing a medium to display its marketing prowess. Individual pages for core products normally begin with a large image or set of images of the product with headlines, the choice to watch an advertisement or feature video directly below and directly under this, smaller images accompanied with key features or unique selling points. Apple structures each page by showing key features and images of the product drawing the customer in and providing easy to navigate links to find out more on greater detailed pages followed by the ability to purchase resulting in a flowing chain of information leading the buyer from the hard sell, to the product information, to the sale itself. Navigation on the site centres around its navigation bar which remains fixed at the top of each page on the website providing consistency to the site. [pic]. The bar consists of separate segments focused towards its main products followed by a support option and finally a search feature. The company also makes use of this fixed banner for branding purposes with the apple logo embedded on the left hand side of the bar. Once an option is chosen the user is then taken to a more detailed page containing sub sections, these secondary pages normally have their own navigation sections to explore the issue further, in the case of the online store making use of a sidebar. Apples search feature on the navigation bar compliments the websites simple and flowing design very well in that it enables users to search and skip to the information they require straight away. The search bar uses AJAX live search results providing a benefit over traditional searching as results are shown as the customer types, narrowed as he or she continues and if the results become too narrow the user is able to delete words to broaden the search horizon. The search results are grouped in a drop down window below the search bar in an easy to understand manner. The text on the website is easily readable and headings are easily ascertainable. Apples website can be optimized for user compatibility by changing language and country as well as providing clear links to an education store and business orientated store. The website also makes great use of white space to separate images and texts making product information and images stand out without distraction. In most cases the website accompanies text with images in order to maintain the customers attention to the product and its unique selling points. Use of Databases Apple successfully incorporates a variety of databases into its website design allowing customers to navigate, search and input data such as order information, tracking information and in the case of support, product information. As a result Apple is able to align inventory and sales to appropriately manage supply and demand across its supply chain. Through the use of variable field and searchable databases Apple also allows its users to make use of unique product numbers tailoring online support to customers specific needs. This type of searchable database results in a quick an efficient way in which customers are able to get the help and support they need. Apple also makes use of relational databases throughout its website design for instance in the case of its product pages and online store. By clicking on the primary key ‘Mac accessories’ a customer is then taken to another page featuring a database of information with similar links enabling the customer to successfully navigate and browse the online store until they find their preferred product. Apple also collates its products under sub categories or databases as in the case of ‘top sellers’ ‘top rated’ and ‘just added’ products options. A conscious effort by Apple to increase usability and minimize data redundancy ensuring the site is quick and easy to navigate. The majority of the primary keys on the store relate to Apples core products making them a useful tool in navigating the databases across the site. Apples website uses SQL [Structured Query Language] to manage its relational database management systems. Over the years Apples website has been tested by a string of SQL injection attacks creating hyperlinks to malicious sites from legitimate links on the website (CGIsecurity. com, 2010). The online databases must be updated in accordance with supply levels, with the addition of new products and the retraction of old. Apple’s fully integrated enterprise business information system and use of its JIT inventory approach enables a fully interactive supply chain, however with the use of the Apple online store as an e-marketplace the supply of products from other suppliers not fully integrated may distort the efficiency of current databases. Integration of business information systems Through its website Apple Inc provides its customers with the ability to personalise and configure their products prior to purchase. In addition, they are then able to their track orders, download manuals and driver support as well as receiving support via an online interactive library or alternative methods of contact such as online reservations to see certified staff in store, by email, phone or live chat. The website also provides discussion boards to resolve issues with other customers, online training and a self-service repair feature enabling customers to track and monitor product repairs as well as checking their entitlement under their personalised service and support packages. [pic] Apple has successfully integrated information systems across its business enabling the company to coordinate its e-commerce across its global operations and supply chain benefiting from real time information. Orders, reservations and requests placed on Apples fully interactive site are integrated with Apples procurement, manufacturing, management, retail and stock control systems providing information to the relevant departments automatically. This in turn allows managers to assess the demands and needs of the organization in real time. To do this successfully Apple’s website provides computer generated billing, personalised product configuration, secure document management and a secure payment system to its customers. Historically Apples information system was based on a legacy platform distributed across 16-legacy applications. In January 1999 however, Apple successfully implemented an Enterprise Resource Planning system called SAP Business One into its business model enabling them to integrate their manufacturing, finance, sales and distribution sectors together, present day Apple manages a fully integrated Enterprise Resource Planning system. Security and Privacy Apple Inc has a legal obligation to protect it customers and users privacy whilst ensuring transactions are kept secure. Apple provides an extensive privacy policy and also provides explicit terms of use for the site. In addition its online store uses industry-standard encryption to protect customers confidentiality when checking out as well as a 128-bit Extended Validation Secure Socket Layer (EV SSL) encryption technique to protect information in transit from the customer to the company following a purchase online. This can be seen in the web address during checkout as sites featuring SSL technology begin with ‘https://’ as apposed to ‘http://’. TRUSTe, one of the worlds leading online privacy companies, independently verifies Apple’s online privacy standards to ensure they meet an industry standard and protect their consumers. Customers are able to create accounts for ease of future transactions called Apple ID’s. An apple ID allows consumers to personalise their online shopping experience giving customers a unified account to be able to purchase products online including downloadable content, the ability to make reservations in store and or tailor online learning, access support and register Apple products for added security. All information held within your Apple ID is protected under Apples comprehensive privacy policy and the user information is protected through user personalised security protocols such as security questions and passwords. Apples privacy policy also extends to information stored in cookies upon visiting and revisiting the site through a web browser. Although Apple reserves the right to share information with third party affiliates any information shared as a result of its e-market business is also explicitly covered by its extensive online privacy policy and data protection technology during transit. Conclusion Apple employs consistent, coherent and unified branding across its website by mirroring the look of its hardware and software with the use of monochromatic colours and subtle shading. The website is modern, sleek, user friendly and has an emphasis on the visual experience providing rich content against a minimalistic background making great use of white space. The consistent use of varied databases, the AJAX live search system and a central navigation bar offers a user-friendly experience. The sites security is of an industry standard however it has still proven vulnerable to malicious attacks proving the website is not without its flaws. With that being said Apple’s website bears example to a successful integration of information systems across a business enabling the company to coordinate its e-commerce across its global operations and supply chain efficiently and effectively. Bibliography Apple Inc. (n. d. ). Apple Reports First Quarter Results. Retrieved March 22, 2011 from apple. com: apple. com/pr/library/2010/01/25results. html CGIsecurity. com. (2010, 08 18). Apple website hit with SQL Injection. Retrieved March 28, 2011 from cgisecurity. om: cgisecurity. com/2010/08/apple-website-hit-with-sql-injection. html Laudon, K. C. , Laudon, J. P. (2006). Management Information Systems: Managing the Digital Firm (10th Edition ed. ). Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Pearson Education Limited. United State Securities and Exchange Comission. (2010, September). Form 10-K, Apple Inc. Retrieved March 28, 2011 from https://www. apple. com/investor/: http://phx. corporate-ir. net/External. File? item=UGFyZW50SUQ9Njc1 MzN8Q2hpbGRJRD0tMXxUeXBlPTM=t=1 1 2

Assignment Principle to Accounting

SR 2. Customer returned merchandise sold on account. CB 3. Sold merchandise to customer for cash. GJ 4. Owner withdrew merchandise for personal use. GJ 5. Paid shipping charges on merchandise purchased on account. GJ 6. Purchased office equipment on credit. PJ 7. Credit purchase from supplier. GJ 8. Recorded adjusting entries. SR 9. Returned damage merchandise to supplier which has not paid yet. SJ 10. Sold merchandise to customer on account. Question 2 (Total 22 Marks) Instructions: Given the entry information in Silva Trading, prepare appropriate entries for the month of August 2012: 0. Aug. 1Sold merchandise for cash $300. Dr Cash$300 Cr Sales$300 1. Aug. 2Purchased merchandise from ABC Co. n account for $5,000; terms 2/10, n/30. 2. Aug. 4Sold excess land for $7,000 accepting a 2-year, 12% note. The land was purchased for $7,000 last year. 3. Aug. 6Sold merchandise to D. Stone on account for $930, terms 2/10, n/30. 4. Aug. 8Accepted a sales return of defective merchandise from D. Stone—credit granted was $280. 5. Aug. 11Purchased merchandise from Tanner Hardware on account for $1,800; terms 1/10, n/30. 6. Aug. 12Paid freight of $200 on the shipment from ABC Co. in cash. 7. Aug. 15Received payment in full from D. Stone by cash. 8. Aug. 19Paid ABC Co. n full by cheque. 9. Aug. 20Paid Tanner Hardware in full by cheque. 10. Aug. 27Purchased office supplies for $250 cash. Question 2 Answer: |Date |Account |Debit ($) |Credit ($) | |Aug. 1 |Cash |300 | | | |Sales | |300 | |Aug. |Purchases |5,000 | | | |ABC Co. | |5,000 | |Aug. 4 |Notes receivable |7,000 | | | |Land | |7,000 | |Aug. 6 |D. Stone |930 | | | |Sales | |930 | |Aug. 8 |Sales return |280 | | | |D. Stone | |280 | |Aug. 1 |Purchases |1,800 | | | |Tanner Hardware | |1,800 | |Aug. 12 |Carriage inward |200 | | | |Cash | |200 | |Aug. 5 |Cash |637 | | | |Discount allowed |13 | | | |D. Stone | |650 | |Aug. 19 |ABC Co. |5,000 | | |Bank | |5,000 | |Aug. 20 |Tanner Hardware |1,800 | | | |Bank | |1,782 | | |Discount received | |18 | |Aug. 7 |Office supplies |250 | | | |Cash | |250 | Question 3 (Total 48 Marks) Instructions: Based on your entries done in Question 2, prepare, for the month of August 2012: a) Adjusted trial balance (24 Marks) b) Income statement (12 Marks) c) Balance sheet (12 Marks) Silva Trading Trial Balance as at July 31, 2012 ————————————————————————— Account TitlesDr. Cr. ————————————————————————— Cash500 Bank9,075 Prepaid Insurance2,000 Freehold Lands31,000 Notes Payable26,000 F. Santos, Capital15,000 F. Santos, Drawing2,000 Sales17,125 Purchase6,400 Salaries Expense4,000 Supplies Expense1,500 Insurance Expense1,200 Interest Expense500 Interest Payable 50 Total58,17558,175 Question 3(a) Answer: Silva Trading Trial Balance for the period ended 31st August 2012 Account Titles |Debit ($) |Credit($) | |Cash |987 | | |Bank |2293 | | |Prepaid Insurance |2000 | | |Freehold Lands |24000 | | |Notes Payable | |26000 | | F. Santos, Capital | |15000 | |F. Santos, Drawing |2000 | | |Sales | |18355 | |Purchase |13200 | | |Salaries Expense |4000 | | |Supplies Expense |1500 | | |Insurance Expense 1200 | | |Interest Expense |500 | | |Interest Payable | |50 | |Notes receivable |7000 | | |Sales return |280 | | |Discount allowed |13 | | |Discount received | |18 | |Carriage inwards |200 | | |Office supplies |250 | | | |_____ |_____ | |Total |59423 |59423 | Question 3(b) Answer: Silva Trading Income statement for the period 31st August 2012 Sales | |18355 | |-Sales return | |280 | | | |18075 | |-Discount allowed | |13 | |Net sales | |18062 | | | | |-Cost of sales | | | |Purchases |13200 | | |-Discount received |18 | | | |13182 | | |Carriage inwards |200 | | | | |13382 | |Gross profit | |4680 | | | | | | | | | |Expenses | | | |Salaries Expense |4000 | | |Supplies Expense |1500 | | |Insurance Expense |1200 | | |Interest Expense |500 | | | | |7200 | |Net loss | |(2520) | Silva Trading Balance sheet as at 31st August 2012 |Non-c urrent assets | | | |Freehold Lands | 24000 | |Office supplies | |250 | |Notes receivable | |7000 | | | |31250 | |Current Assets | | | |Cash |987 | | |Bank |2293 | | |Prepaid Insurance |2000 | | | |5280 | | |Current Liabilities | | | |Notes Payable |26000 | | |Interest Payable |50 | | | |26050 | | | | | | |Works capital | |(20770) | | | |10480 | |Owner’s Equity | | | |Early Capital | |15000 | |-Drawing | |2000 | | | |13000 | |-Net loss | |(2520) | | | |10480 |

Case study 2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4500 words

Case study 2 - Essay Example Founded in the year 2008, Orla’s Coffees has been experiencing continuous growth with its eight coffee shops across different locations in Dublin. The organisation is basically renowned for its thematic interior, which offers quality based coffee to each consumer or group. The coffee shops of the organisation offer a thematic library experience to its valuable customer groups, who are also provided an opportunity of borrowing and donating books as per their interests. Throughout the years, Orla’s Coffees shops have drawn the attention of varied group of consumers across the whole area of Dublin city in the form of providing greater product and/or service values to them. Therefore, offering product and/or service value towards each repeated consumer is one of the imperative factors for the success of the coffee shops of the company. However, despite the challenges derived from the major economic transitions, Orla’s coffees shops have also been recognised to undergo major constraints due to its ineffective data information system infrastructure. Due to the impact of economic recession, the company has had experience of reducing its numbers of coffee shops from eight to five throughout the previous three years. The situation thus called for making a major decision towards rejuvenating potentials of the company. In order to effectively deal with the problems, it is quite necessary for Orla’s Coffees to obtain valuable responses of its customer groups by combining their location and demographic data. This can substantially enable the organisation to make strong decisions in the sphere of raising maximum profitability. Therefore, the primary objective of this report is to critically assess the current business performance of Orla’s Coffees and develop an effective management decision-making tool on its behalf. The proposed

Assignment 4 Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 9

4 - Assignment Example In addition, Rolian and Gordon (2013, p. 393) acknowledge the conclusions were also based â€Å"on the ability to assign phalanges to a single individual, and to the correct side and digit†. Rolian and Gordon (2013) argue that none of the assignment is secure. According to Rolian and Gordon (2013) the challenge arises from the sample composition and taphonomy of A. L. 333. In the study, Rolian and Gordon focused on Australopithecus afarensis species. The A. L. 333 hominins are majorly teeth and bones fossils discovered in Hadar, Ethiopia. The fossils have been dated to have existed during the Pliocene period. Ardipithecus ramidus is considered to have been the ancestral hominid to Australopithecus afarensis. Consequently the ancestral traits evident in Australopithecus afarensis include bipedalism and tooth morphology. The derived trait from Australopithecus afarensis is in relation to the hand morphology of modern humans. The hominins are also considered to have been bipedal. Rolian and Gordon employed a re-sampling approach in the study. The re-sampling approach comprised a wholesome assemblage of the complete hand elements from Hadar (Rolian and Gordon). Additionally, the approach accounts for the uncertainties associated with identifying phalanges. The uncertainties are due to unidentified taphonomic factors in samples from fossils. The factors led to a bias in the estimation of the manual proportions. Rolian and Gordon re-sampled hand long bone lengths in extant hominoids, as well as in Australopithecus afarensis. Subsequently, Rolian and Gordon obtained the confidence limits for distributions of the manual proportions in the extant hominoids. The analysis procedure adopted by Rolian and Gordon was a four-step procedure. Rolian and Gordon first drew subsamples then subsequently matched the fossil assemblage. Rolian and Gordon then derived the metrics of the manual proportions. Finally, the researchers then derived

Nancy Lancaster and Her Influence on Architecture Essay Example for Free

Nancy Lancaster and Her Influence on Architecture Essay Empowerment. No other word can probably spell out how the women had ever wanted, and will always want to achieve it so long as oppression, discrimination, disparagement, abuse, and the list of scornful issues can go on until this era and so long as the eras to come continue to wreak these issues upon the women. This advocacy grew stronger every decade and the society’s sight falls upon those ‘group’ of citizens kicking up a storm within and against the ‘other’ group called men. What could better explain this outcry than their wonder that despite their membership in what the world or at least most of it recognize as society, they are clustered as ‘the second group’ with the men filling up the first. Even the artistic realm, though mostly associated with women, is predominated by the male species. After all, the great grandmother of all architectural work of art was conceived by men. The Parthenon, begun in 447 B.C., was part of a great plan conceived by the indubitably male Athenian Pericles for decorating the Acropolis in Greece. This temple was designed by three other manly architects Ictinus, Mnesicles, and Callicrates. History tells us that the Greek colonists had established this ever-male-dominated disciplines in literature, art, and architecture. Their neighbors, the Etruscans, were the first to forge practical skills in sanitation, road building, architecture, and pottery making by as early as seventh century B.C. This inequity was brought about by a number of reasons. Generally women were not permitted into the finest art institutions. As a consequence, women turned out deficient in the de rigueur education to go up against men in the field receiving the highest regard for in the scholarly realm, historical and metaphorical painting. This segregation similarly kept women from breaking the glass ceiling and establishing the social and political associates needed to thrive in the artistically aggressive ambit. Juvenile female art scholars supposed they existed in a potential period notwithstanding the several forms of complicatedness they were obliged to prevail over. Private art academe, enrolled in which was a mix of male and female students, were a commonplace, as were art schools exclusive to women. But even these art schools would not permit women to exert themselves from nude subjects until the transition to the new century. The sizeable national exhibitions demonstrated several works by women, to a certain extent for the reason that entries were tendered namelessly or incognito. Halfway through the subsequent centuries, women likewise started to establish their own exclusive expositions. Among them were Americans Mary Elizabeth Jane Colter, Lois Lilley Howe, Louise Blanchard Bethune, Sophia Hayden, and Mabel Keyes Babcock. Twentieth century architects explored new methods and materials in their designs, but the dominant style in city buildings was the angular International Style. A few architects in the United States made use of ideas found in German architecture and in the Savoye House. Although office and public buildings are impressive, it is the house that provides the most immediate architectural experiences for most people. There is a huge variety in the houses in the United States. This is seen in the thousands of buildings erected in housing developments since World War II. At one extreme, are the multiple-unit dwellings. At the other is the house designed for the needs of one family. Thanks to the households headed by women, the need for more female architects and designers were born. And together with dwellings is the widened variety of furniture and housewares that peppered the household pioneered by Nancy Lancaster. A woman designer who made a redrafting of a historic edifice was Rebecca L. Binder. The five-story academic institution she was commissioned to remake a 40,000-square feet addition, which she beautified with concrete with horizontal belts in brickwork. How she made it happen could not be sufficed with either superlative words or this magnum opus itself:   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Perhaps, Nancy Lancaster’s words could better explain the beauty that Rebecca L. Binder and the rest of the fabulous woman designers emanate through their masterpieces:   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   â€Å"I was always searching for beauty. I wasn’t as interested in the houses as I was in their ambience. In the furniture, in the history, in the garden. You never could put your finger specifically on whatever created the beauty, it was too elusive, but houses were where I found it the most†¦Ã¢â‚¬    Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Indeed, Rebecca L. Binder is but one of the many designers especially the female ones to have perpetuated the influence of one of the breakthrough designers of the modern era Nancy Lancaster. Nancy Lancaster’s words could echo the own feelings of these female designers for interiors and architecture. The revolutionary Scandinavian boomerang shapes had descended en masse upon the abodes of the more progressive of the Western population. The fifties era had set in, but in other homes, homebodies were still clinging to Victorian values, Dickens, and Puccini, while everyone else was worshipping the new gods names Elvis and Rock, and had been lured by the pale Danish furniture, delicate paper Noguchi lamps, and wretched wallpapers. The new household names were unpronounceable Sigrun Bà ¼low-Hà ¼be, Victoria Van Dyke, Itsuko Hasegawa, Signe Lagerborg-Stenius, Annette Hoyt Flanders, and Hanna Adamczewska-Wejchert.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The sixties heralded a great struggle between the love for Grand-Mere’s romantic world and the growing interest in all things modern. Out went the sweet remembrance of the old coachman’s house with its exquisite, old-fashioned rooms and in came the exciting iconoclasm of the Mary Quant, the provocative mini-skirt, and false eyelashes by the yard. Plastic reigned supreme, and inflatable transparent furniture and chairs, lamps, kitchen utensils in screaming, vile colors took over from the natural Scandinavian look. Eileen Gray, Le Corbusier, and their much-favored combination of steel, chrome, and black leather had yet to be rediscovered. For the moment, the design-conscious sat decorously in the pop designer Verner Panton’s â€Å"Champagne Chair† and in Knoll’s pristine white and curvilinear furniture, or tried to look very futuristic and 2001 in a foam and stretch-jersey construction made by Monsieur Mourge. This variety may seem to have been impossible decades ago. Back then, Expressionism was a movement that proved to be an enduring force in 20th century art, exercising a strong influence on New York painters of the 1940s and 1950s. This period also promoted the concept of neoplasticism, a plastic idiom equally applicable to painting, architecture, and the decorative arts, and was known to have influenced the Constructivists in New York. Constructivism is one of several idealist abstract art movements that arose in Europe and Russia between 1913 and 1920. It stressed total acceptance of technological, scientific society and the possibility of an ideal world based on the perfect functionalism of the machine (Frascina et al., 1982). More futuristic Vasarely patterns, the revolting combination of chocolate brown and orange and the dangerous juxtaposition of apple-green and geranium-red proved that the seventies were all about color. And about color-blindness. Walls covered with panels of brushed steel, long-haired flokati carpet that looked like the curly fur of a wet sheep, and anthropomorphic furniture ran riot. To be really in meant having plexiglass all over the place: a plexiglass coffee table, plexigllass side tables, plexiglass obelisks (with uplighters cleverly hidden in their bases so they glowed mysteriously at night), and little plexiglass supports to add drama to the objets d’art and emphasize their qualities and value. Indeed, these innovative designs were all a product of the revolutionary state of affairs during the time they were made. Thus, the artists’ revolt against the classic codes of composition, careful execution, harmonious coloring, and heroic subject matter. One museum in New York today nostalgically reflects this revolution. The Museum of Modern Art puts across the messages of women’s success, fame, power and glory with their latest exhibit Digitally Mastered: Recent Acquisitions from the Museum’s Collection. Digitally Mastered stresses total acceptance of technological, scientific society and the possibility of an ideal world based on the perfect functionalism of the machine. This modern variety in the arts springs to life with a surprising sense of alertness, as if it had a personality. Joie de vivre is what every New Yorker can describe of himself. After all, New York is the busiest city in the world. The progressiveness of women designers is entertainingly described in the most relevant movie last year. In the movie/novel The Devil Wears Prada, the highly modish corporate garb, seen on people going to work in the course of a fashion runway and doing a catwalk along the busiest business districts of New York, is still an understatement. Not only does the movie depict women progressive in the arty world but in the economic world as a whole. Women have always been the tops in the fashion world, both locally and internationally. Somehow the androgyny seems to have the advantage of knowing what their fellow women want and what men consider attractive in terms of etiquette and dress. If interior design in the eighties had a color scheme, it was mainly black and white. It was launched and cleverly promoted by the Black Widow of design, Andree Putman, a gifted talent-scout and orchestrator of striking and severe interiors, who founded the firm ECART which reproduced original designs, mainly from the thirties. As a result, a large number of tables, chairs, and lams by the totally forgotten Irish designer Eileen Gray, and creations by giants of the Art Deco period, such as Robert Mallet-Stevens and Jean-Michel Frank, were re-edited. Re-edition was the clever description that covered up the eighties’ frantic and boundless copying of originals. Design fanatics, who would never have invested any money in the acquisition of a common copy, seemed to be proud to be living with the same Fortuny Lamr, the same Eileen Gray carpet, and the same sleek Frank sofa as their neighbors. Gae Aulenti and Rebecca L. Binder very well know this. Those who thought that living among vulgar copies showed little originality seemed to find solace in the sublime and very esthetic emptiness of minimalism, reassured by the fact that if one possessed very little, one could never be accused of having no taste. Andree Putman, always light years ahead of trends to come, had already pointed a warning finger at the threatening despotism of design and at the constant fear of not being of the latest fashion. Of course, the multifaceted world of interior design had also had a string of adepts who would only take inspiration from great classical examples. In the fifties, when the boomerang fever had rise to its most dangerous level, the prominent Madeleine Castaing was filling the pages of the leading magazine Connaissance des Arts with images of rooms that looked deceptively period. Her love of white and gold and her penchant for velvets and damask silks and a flamboyant use of antiques seemed, at that time, only accessible to the moneyed few. Madame Castaing’s subtle concoction of le style Anglais, bourgeois Viennese biedermeier, and sever Frencg directoire reached its zenith at her own chateau near Chartres. But her cleverly composed â€Å"windows on the past† were like wines that do not travel, and remained imprisoned in their own country. This description could equally well apply to the formidable Nancy Lancaster herself, whose memories from her Virginia childhood transcribed in her splendid dwellings in England became the â€Å"English country† look. Her â€Å"buttah-yellah† room above the shop was the epitome of relaxed chic, and some of her statements, such as â€Å"I never thought twice about using bright colors in old houses, and â€Å"Mahogany is lovely when it’s been faded in the sun,† illustrate her loose interpretation of the past when she was attempting to create a period look. An inspired artist who spend her whole life doing up houses, Lancaster has left a most delightful description of the decoration of the staircase in her London townhouse at 28 Quen Anne’s Gate: â€Å"When you walked in, the staircase was on the left: it was the loveliest architectural feature in the house. I left the staircase a tobacco color but painted the paneling along the stairs a pale, pale green. On the window in the stair hall, I put curtains the color of a cigar, with a fringed pelmet and along the floor I had a very pretty Bessarabian runner with the same brown in it†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Her words convey something of the excitement involved in creating this prologue to a ballet performance. On the other side of the Atlantic, an equally formidable lady was also freely borrowing elements from the past. Lady Mendl, also known as Elsie de Wolfe, who invented the profession of â€Å"interior decorator† was making a risky cocktail of Louis styles in different shades of white and combining them with Venetian baroque, forties’ stucco, engraved mirrors, and walls decorated with silver leaf. The setting for a period recreation does not always have to be grand, the expenditure exorbitant, or reflective of only the sentimental female’s work. It is imagination rather than money that is the first requirement for originality.   Large amounts of money are not always needed: a room can be assembled from inexpensive finds in the flea market, a pair of old curtains, and a table found in a street or on a dumpster. All these could be found in grandma’s basement while the men in the family, leaving their women at home, rummage through the streets for the money. The likes of Nancy Lancaster prove that even the homebodies can be exorbitantly creative. Ancient patinas have their own romance that could only come from the empowered womanly instincts: crumbling walls and peeling paint can be the epitome of sophistication, and touches such as the elegant folds of draped fabric, a candlestick on an antique table, or the presence of a canopied bed all contribute to a style that has been inspired by the past but will, in the end, be timeless. References Frascina, Francis, Harrison, Charles, and Deirdre, Paul. (2002). Modern Art and Modernism: A Critical Anthology. Grosenick, U. (2002). Women Artists in the 20th and 21st Century.

The Existential Progression of King Lear Essay -- King Lear Essays

The Existential Progression of King Lear The human condition is the scrutiny of art, Prince Hamlet notes the purpose of art is to hold the mirror against nature. King Lear is a masterful inquiry into the human condition. King Lear is confronted with existence in its barest sense and is forced to adapt to that existence. His adaptation to the absurd provides an invaluable insight for all into the universal problem of existence. Lear is forced into an existential progression that will be traced with the phenomenon of consciousness; the result of this progression is seen ironically in that Lear finds satisfaction in despair. The point of departure of Lear into the unknown of existence is seen when he plunges himself into the harshness and relentlessness of nature. While immersed in the storm, Lear has been reduced to the bare essentials of man, he has lost those that he perceived as loving, and despite being accompanied by the Fool and Kent, Lear is more alone than he has ever been. The daughters he thought who loved him abandoned him and have taken his kingdom. The daughter who truly loved him was banished by his irrationality; Lear is alone. The presence of the Fool and Edgar should not necessarily be looked upon as that of a companion, but rather as catalyst for Lear’s progression. As for Kent, his presence is barely felt by Lear. Lear’s isolation is critical for his progression. Similar to Sartre’s Roquentin in Nausea, isolation and loneliness are the foundations for becoming existentially aware. â€Å"The tempest in my mind/ Doth from my senses take all feeling else†(III, iv 13-14)[1] Lear is completely alone in the universe, abandoned by love and cloistered from all outside emotion; he is now prepared to perceive the realit... ...a masterful work of art is that it conveys this universal truth, and at the same time conveys the sharp emotional anxiety that is concurrent with the universal truth. Lear constructs the universal human condition. Works Cited 1-William Shakespeare. King Lear edited by Russle Fraser.(New York: Penguin Putnam Inc., 1982). All future references will come from this text. 2-G. Wilson Knight. The Wheel of Fire. (London: Mehuen & Co., 1949), pg 193 3-Northrop Frye. On Shakespeare. (New Haven: Yale University Press, 1986), pg 113 4-Harold Bloom. Shakespeare: The Invention of the Human. (New York: Riverhead Books, 1998), pg 503 5-Bloom, pg. 503 6-Bloom, pg. 504 7-Bloom, pg. 505 8-Descartes. Meditations. Dr. Nighan's British Literature and AP page: http://stjohns-chs.org/english/Seventeenth/Sev-bk.html 9-Knight, pg. 196 10-Frye, pg. 119

Ancient Egyptian Art and Ancient Japanese Art Essay

Ancient Egyptian art during this time was a big time of this civilization. Ancient Egyptian Art usually depict god, goddess and animals, because of their high religious ways. Egytian art is still today recognized as some the most sophisticated works man has ever seen. I chose to works of art to compare and contrast Egyptian and Japanese art. I will start with Egyptian Art first. The Statue of Memi and Sabu Pair is a three dimensional work of art depicting husband and wife standing together These statues was placed in a serdab, the hidden statue chamber found in no royal tomb chapels of the Old Kingdom. This period of art was Egypt most innovative times because of Pyramids and works like this being made. The Egyptians believed that the spirit of the deceased could use such a statue as a home and enter it in order to benefit from gifts of food that were brought to the offering chapel of the tomb (The Metropolitan Museum of Art). The material used Giza Painted Limestone as part of Old Kingdom, Dynasty 4, between 2575–2465 b. c. This goes in with the time of what I discuss early that Egyptians having religious belief they often idealize and symbolize there dead. The pose is unusual because Memi is returning Sabu’s embrace by draping his arm around her shoulders showing a relationship between the two (The Metropolitan Museum of Art). Second work of art I chose is Ancient Japanese Art. Japanese Ancient Art is one the most dynamic art periods. They were the first to develop pottery. Ancient Japan pottery Go far back as the 11th BC. The work of art I chose to compare and contrast is Storage jar made of earthenware clay unglazed in Middle Jomon period between 2500–1500 B. C. The earthenware food vessel, which came from the Aomori Prefecture in northeastern Japan, is remarkable for the fine quality of its clay and its sophisticated decoration. The cord-marked herringbone pattern was reproduced by cords knotted together and twisted in opposite directions (The Metropolitan Museum of Art). Like the Egyptians they had very detail of work that symbolizes the culture. Japanese use these potteries to store food and eating. The reason for their vast use of pottery was probably so vast because the culture was always on the go at that time. In conclusion both works of both works of art show vast sophistication and symbolize a style based off their culture beliefs and needs. Egyptian Art may have more vast terminology than Japanese Art. Both have made an impact on society today.

Online Relationships

Online Relationships Cyberspace relationships have the advantages of time, distance depletion, and fantasy abilities (Suler). Internet users can take on different identities or take part in fantasy games. They can become someone else. James Katz and Philip Aspen report that the Internet is a place to make friends and stay in touch with far away relatives (Stoll). It makes distance disappear. Also, online a person is given time before they must respond to the other person (Suler).They are given the opportunity to better articulate themselves in writing. It is also possible to store conversations with friends on-line (Suler). Sometimes face to face relationships are hard to make. It’s easier for a shy or awkwardly social person to use the internet to make friends. With all of these social advantages, why are there still many lonely Internet users? â€Å"Paradoxically, the Internet is a social technology used for communication, yet it results in declining social involvement and psychological well-being† (Stoll).There is a large gap between people we can touch and people we can onl†¦ heheheheheh eheh jajb ladjbas hbdfhS HDFBASUB LBFHAB SBDFLABSH CLABHK SCVBKBVKHS FVERBVKDSBFU NVA ;V ASK;VAS GBKV RHK VKJ VUIBKJ; SKJVB; V;KEVKJERVIUOVUER HA HA HA HA HA HA AHA HAHA HA A HAHA AHAHA AHJAH AHA AHA A AHAH A AHA A A HA AHA AH AHAHAA HA A AHA HA AHAH KG GTJT NENE EJSD S SMS DC KJFJ G GKGNMF SDN SNSNKSKSW SWKE EKOEOKE W W W W W W W W W W W W W W W W WE

Crafting the perfect elevator pitch

Crafting the perfect elevator pitch In our increasingly digital world, cold-calling has become something of a lost art. But newer isn’t always better. Warmilu founder and CEO Grace Hsia explains why entrepreneurs should embrace phone calls, and gives some tips for crafting a perfect pitch. [Source: Daily Fuel]

Corporate Governance Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Corporate Governance - Assignment Example The framework also contains the procedures for proper control, supervision, and information flows which are ought to serve as checks and balances system. Corporate governance provides a framework for attaining the objectives of the company. It makes it encompass practically every sphere of management, from internal controls and action plans to corporate disclosure and performance measurement. Most firms nowadays strive to have a high degree of corporate governance (Solomon, 2004). Most companies no longer desire to be only profitable but also demonstrate perfect corporate citizenship through ethical behavior, environmental awareness, and sound corporate governance practices. Corporate governance helps in streamlining processes and guides in giving people accountability. Corporate governance helps in the process of decision making. One of the primary goals of corporate governance is to explain clearly to the stakeholders, the board, and the shareholders what their responsibilities and duties are within the company. It becomes easier for the people within the firm to understand whatever they are accountable for, after understanding their duties and responsibilities. If the board has the responsibility for proper evaluation of the management of the company, then they are held accountable for it. If the companys management is poor, then the board is held accountable because it is its role to evaluate the management of the company (Sheikh, 1995). The blame will thus not be transferred to other members of the corporation and in this case the blame will be with the board. It thus helps in preventing situations in which there are no ways to know the accountable people for whatever actions. Accountability helps in decision making within the company setup. Accountability helps in finding out about who should get an acknowledgment for the good work done in their respective fields and who should get punished

How Will Mitt Romney Fare In His Bid For The Republican Party Essay

How Will Mitt Romney Fare In His Bid For The Republican Party Nomination - Essay Example The demand for knowledge about how a political process will turn out has increased the concern for what factors go into making intelligent predictions and how they are quantified. In presidential politics, of course, these factors are so innately complex and difficult to quantify that predictions are nearly always prone to failure. However, by looking at history and looking at the present together, one can piece together an accurate picture of chances or odds in formulating a semblance of a prediction. According to BetAsia, former Governor Mitt Romney’s odds at becoming the Republican nominee stand at 8/11 as of October 12 (Howard). This margin indicates a relatively good chance that Romney will secure the Republican nomination, and it is based on a bookmaker’s financial evaluation of Romney’s chances. Currently, there is good reason to agree with the bookmaker in putting the former Governor’s chances at such a high margin. Indeed, Romney has many objectiv e factors riding in his direction, including being the supposed frontrunner in a field of candidates that have the Republican base restless (Esch). Having frontrunner status bodes well for a candidate in advance of the Iowa Caucus and Super Tuesday elections: events that have historically either made or broken candidates’ dreams of the White House. Barring any crucial setbacks to those dreams, former Governor Mitt Romney is poised, based on a multitude of those predictive elements, to seize the Republican nomination for President. Section I: A Brief History of Mitt Romney In order to understand Mitt Romney as a candidate for President, one must understand his motives and policy beliefs, as they are relevant to his political campaign. Romney was born in Detroit, Michigan to George and Lenore Romney in 1947.At the age of five, his family moved from Detroit to Bloomfield Hills, after which his father took over and rescued American Motors from bankruptcy as CEO. George Romney pre sided over the Detroit Stake of the Mormon Church, which Romney would identify with as his religious affiliation (Cohn). While in high school, Romney’s father was elected Governor of Michigan, for whom he worked as an intern in the Governor’s office. Taking on odds jobs, such as a security guard and an ice hockey team manager, Romney wished to assume his father’s role. Still in high school, Romney began dating his future wife Ann Davies, whom he decided to marry near the date of his graduation. After graduation, Romney attended Stanford University for one year, taking part in the campus’s conservative movement before going overseas as a Mormon missionary. After finishing his education at Brigham Young University with his wife, now Ann Romney, he pursued a joint J.D. /M.B.A. program at Harvard University. Romney remained in Massachusetts after graduating, working as a management consultant first independently and then for Bain & Company starting in 1977. R omney began a private equity investment firm with Bill Bain in 1984, called Bain Capital. In 1990, Romney returned to Bain & Company as CEO to restructure the firm facing collapse. In 1999, he took a position as CEO of the Salt Lake City Olympic Games Organizing Committee, leaving Bain Capital once again a tremendously successful company (DealBook). Romney’