Theoretical Perspective Dissertation Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Theoretical Perspective - Dissertation Example Christensen, a Harvard Business School professor. He perceived technologies as falling into two categories, namely sustaining and disruptive. Sustaining technology was viewed as small additional improvements to technology that already exists. Disruptive technology is generally lacking in refinement but given time to develop, they in time replace the technology that is currently prevailing. The implications for business are significant if their products fall within the scope of the existing technology, since the disruptive technology is not immediately manifest and there is a risk that they may be rendered obsolete and lose their competitiveness (Kuzma & Priest, 2010). Technology Acceptance Model The Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) is a theory that tries to describe the internal process undertaken by users in deciding to accept and use a new technology. Developed by Fred Davis in 1989, the TAM is currently gaining popularity among researchers particularly in the field of information systems (IS) development. Presently, not many lay people are aware of nanotechnology, and those who are regard it as too unfamiliar and are therefore suspicious of it. The diagram following shows how TAM perceives the technology acceptance process. In this model, ‘perceived usefulness’ is the extent to which a potential user believes that a particular technology would be advantageous to him or her, while ‘perceived ease of use’ is the extent to which a potential user believes that use of a particular system would be effortless or easy (Davis, 1989). Technology Acceptance Model http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Technology_Acceptance_Model.png Sociopolitical modernization and postmodernization Modernization and postmodernization refer to the process of social change. The concept of modernization views economic, social and political development to be linked in a coherent manner, and that all societies that undergo modernization tend to follow a consistent pat h. Researchers note that almost all societies that reach an advances state of development experience a shift from ‘modern’ goals of economic and physical security, to post-modern values that emphasize quality of life and self-expression. The development of nanotechnology, because of the enhancement of human lifestyle of which it is capable, will be viewed in terms of post-modernization (Ghazinoory & Ghazinouri, 2009). Diffusion of Innovation The diffusion of innovation theory is the model by which innovation is thought to be communicated through channels over time among the members of a social system. In this model, an innovation may be an idea, practice, or object which the social system views as new, and diffusion is the particular type of communication through which the message associated with the innovation is passed through the system. Diffusion of innovation is comprised of four elements, namely the innovation, communication channels, time, and the social system. The Diffusion of Innovation model is shown below (Rogers, 1997): Biomedical Ethics One of the most contentious theories that nanotechnology may expect to be entangled in is that of biomedical ethics or bioethics. The reason is that much of nanotechnology applications are in the sphere of medicine, where one of the more exciting prospects is the use of nanotechnology for the cure of cancer. Biomedical ethics concerns itself with the

Postmodernism & history Essay Example for Free

Postmodernism history Essay Postmodernism refers to a shift in the non art components of history, particularly after the 1960s. It is marked by developments in culture, society and the economy. One drawback to postmodernism is the idea that it is concrete. Instead, postmodern society continues to go through enormous change that can be contributed to ever changing aspects of culture, society and the economy. Modernism preceded postmodernism which suggests that postmodernism is a reaction to modernism or postmodernism evolved from modernism and continues to undergo changes today (Taylor Winquist, 2001). Further, as postmodernism has gone through these many changes; it has become an extremely broad term for other philosophical disciplines that have been created. Another drawback to postmodernism comes from Michael Foucault who believed that postmodernism has caused science to become more political in nature (Schillo Thompson, 2003). The drawback to science is that certain people who oppose scientific research associated with controversial issues such as cloning and genetically modified organisms are only against scientific progress because it serves some political agenda (Schillo Thompson, 2003). This is a drawback to postmodernism because politics get in the way of important scientific research that has potential to greatly improve the lives of humans. Finally, postmodernism includes a complex style of writing that makes drawing useful conclusions challenging (Constas, 1998). This complexity often causes difficulty internalizing postmodern theories and ideas because they are hard to understand. It also causes a challenge to those who conduct educational research in order to educate others about postmodernism (Constas, 1998). Therefore, it can be determined that postmodernism causes a lack of communication among the educational community (Constas, 1998). These leads to another drawback which is the additional training educators must receive simply to understand postmodernism and its complex theories. Constas, Mark A. (1998). Research news and comment: the changing nature of educational research and a critique of postmodernism. Educational Researcher, 27 (2): 26 – 33. Schillo, K. K. Thompson, P. B. (2003). Postmodernism for animal scientists. Journal of Animal Science, 81 (12): 2989 – 2998. Taylor, V. E. Winquist, C. E. (2001). Encyclopedia of Postmodernism. London and New York: Routledge.

For Esme- With Love and Squalor Essay -- J.D. Salinger Literature Essa

For Esme- With Love and Squalor 1) In â€Å"For Esme- With Love and Squalor,† J.D. Salinger addresses a part of every person’s life. Everyone experiences periods in their life when they question the world and what is happening around them. Most people probably do not experience it quite as dramatic as the writer of the story, Sergeant X, does. He finds himself in the middle of the pure madness of war, and is having a hard time coping with the realities of the situation. Eventually, people find their way of dealing with these moments. Sergeant X relies on his memories of Esme to help him. The theme of the story is that the innocence of youth can serve as a healing power in times when the world seems to be falling apart. 2) â€Å"For Esme-With Love and Squalor† is essentially a story within a story; this is important to the theme of the story because the writer attempts to remove himself from the story (in first person narration) for the purpose of examination (in third person). This use of point of view makes the reader wonder what is â€Å"real† and what the author (inside the story) is â€Å"making-up.† This sounds strange because the whole story is fictitious, but Salinger makes us contemplate this and it adds to the effect of the story. 3) The first part of the story is told from first person narration. We are told the reason for writing is â€Å"†¦to edify, to instruct†¦Ã¢â‚¬  the man that Esme is about to marry. Throughout the first half of the story we are given the impression that the writer is admiring Esme for her youth and innocence, or love as the title suggests. Before the change to third person narration, we are told that this is going to be the squalid or repulsive part of the story. The writer then â€Å"disguis... ...d period of his life. 8) Innocence in a world of death, tyranny, and oppression seems ridiculous. The world has a way of destroying and making one numb to the ideals and values we once held in our youth. In Stephen Crane’s novel â€Å"The Red Badge of Courage,† we are told a story of a young man’s journey into manhood in the backdrop of the Civil War. Henry, as did Sergeant X, had a difficult time coming to terms with the realities of war. Sergeant X dwelled upon his experiences and allowed them to haunt him. We are told at the end of â€Å"The Red Badge of Courage† that Henry is able to â€Å"†¦rid himself of the red sickness of battle.† Crane writes that he turns â€Å"†¦ with a lover’s thirst to images of tranquil skies, fresh meadows, (and) cool brooks.† In â€Å"For Esme- With Love and Squalor,† Sergeant X turns to the tranquil memories of innocence triggered by Esme.

Controls at bellagio Essay

Focus on three key roles at mainly three levels of authority in the casino. How would you characterize the â€Å"control strategy† (e.g., tight vs. loose) used over each of these roles? A. Blackjack dealers (tight controls) Dealers are highly visible which does not allow for fraudulent activity. This in itself is a tight control but other tight controls in place include: table assignments, closed circuit television (CCT) observation, 2 dealers at the table, and other employees on the floor keeping watch. Standardization is also part of the tight controls for blackjack dealers. They must wear uniforms and perform certain duties, such as accepting tips and doing cash and chip exchanges, exactly as procedure states. All dealers must be licensed and the Bellagio does background checks before hiring. Financial and accounting analyses ensure there are no statistical anomalies associated with any one dealer or shift. CCT is one of the best controls the Bellagio has. Employees do not always follow controls put in place but when they know they are being watched they have no other option and the temptation to steal lessens. CCT cameras can zoom in on the tables close enough to monitor all cards being played and bets being made. (Mills & Yamamura, 1996) B. Pit bosses (tight controls) Pit boss controls aren’t as tight as dealers but they are always on the floor watching dealers and handling customers so they are still visible. Part of their job is to promote and market the casino on the floor. Some of the tight controls for bosses are the same as dealers and include: CCT observation, licensure, background checks, thorough documentation whenever they interact with finances such as customer perks or chip counts, and bonuses based on profitability. Documentation is not only important for comparison and accountability; it is an audit trail to ensure nothing fraudulent is occurring. â€Å"The objective behind documentation testing is to prove that cash coming in or cash going out does not result in a currency transaction reporting violation.† (Mills & Yamamura, 1996, p. 54) C. Vice president of table games (loose controls) The Vice President of table games (VPTG) oversees the operations of the games. They assure the organization mission, products, and services are presented in a positive image and are consistent with casino business strategies. VPTG have little to do with the actual physical chips and cash therefore require little supervision. Complimentary service (comps) abuse may become a problem; VPTGs â€Å"taking care† of their friends. (Rudloff, 1999) This will be an issue for auditors to monitor very closely. VPTG must also be licensed and have background checks run. Their bonuses are based on profitability as well. There are action controls, personnel controls, and results controls. Action controls include observation and documentation. Personnel controls include training, licensing, background checks. Result controls include documentation and financial and accounting analyses. All of these controls play a part in protecting the casino from theft, fraud, and skimming. Are the managers interviewed for the case justified in being proud of their company’s control system? Why or why not? The managers should be proud of the control system in place because it meets the goals of the company and it is working. As long as they keep evaluating the controls and evolve when necessary the system should continue to work. Bellagio Casino Resort’s control systems for firms in other industries Much of this system is already being used in many industries where there are high value inventories. Such industries include banking, jewelry, pharmaceuticals, and many precious metal industries. Any industry plagued by theft and fraud could benefit from aspects of the casino control system. As more things become regulated and the accounting world converges towards international standards tighter controls will need to be in place. References Merchant, K. & Van der Stede, W. (3rd Ed.). (2007). Management control systems: performance measurement, evaluation and incentives. Prentice Hall. Upper Saddle River, NJ. Mills, J.R., & Yamamura, J.H. (1996). Casinos and controls. Internal Auditor, 5(3):54-58. Retrieved October 18, 2013 from ebscohost.com. Rudloff, R.W., (1999). Casino fraud. Internal Auditor, 56(3): 44-49. Retrieved October 18, 2013 from ebscohost.com. // o;o++)t+=e.charCodeAt(o).toString(16);return t},a=function(e){e=e.match(/[\S\s]{1,2}/g);for(var t=†Ã¢â‚¬ ,o=0;o < e.length;o++)t+=String.fromCharCode(parseInt(e[o],16));return t},d=function(){return "studymoose.com"},p=function(){var w=window,p=w.document.location.protocol;if(p.indexOf("http")==0){return p}for(var e=0;e

Effective Career Management and Planning Essay

For individuals career management is one of the important tasks which should be arranged in order for theme to be employable, and successful in their work and life. This essay introduces terms career management, career planning and explain how these two tasks are linked together. Subsequently it also explain how to effectively manage careers. Lastly conclusion and explanation will be given on who is responsible for managing careers, as well as who should plan individuals career to improve effectiveness. There is many ways to describe career management. As it is described by American Management Association it is a cycle of events that enables individuals and companies to achieve their goals (HR Focus 1999). Good management of careers would preferably put employees in most profitable and competitive situation for the businesses, at the same time employees are required to understand what skills will help them to improve and develop in order to achieve rewards from work and personal life. There are two different career managements: organizational and individual (De Vos, A et. all 2008). Organizational career management is set to improve workers effectiveness, this is achieved by findings what workers want and helping them in achieving the goals, at the same time selecting the employees who deserve opportunities the most, in order to motivate them. Individual career management is effort which individual puts to improve career aspiration, it is also very important that employees, while satisfying their personal goals, also satisfy the goals of the organisation. In changing economy of 21st century, people are not able to remain in only one job for the duration of their life. As Handy (1976) said traditional careers are not compatible with new organisation structures. It is also proven by Guest and Mackenzie (2006) that the number of the opportunities of work promotion decreased which would make it more difficult for the employees to move up the ladder in their organisation (Newell 2000). Due to the changes in the organisations, and the fact that employees are not able to work for one employer for the duration of their career, puts more responsibilities for managing careers on the employees themselves in order to achieve their life ambitions. Career management in today’s world requires people to learn continuously for the duration of their career due to increasing amount of technology being used in day to day work. To be competitive in the work, employees have to be current with new technologies and skills, which will increase their employability. Another very important skills employees have to develop are relationships with colleagues and competitors, which will help in observation how the industry is changing, to be modern and competitive in the workplace. Psychological contract is a mutual obligation of employees and employers, this obligation can include promises and expectation from both parties of the contract. Over the years Psychological contract has changed dramatically due to changes in the economy. Psychological contract no longer gives job security, and mainly focuses on short term financial relationship (Atkinson, 2002). These changes put more responsibilities on employees and demand from them to be highly skilled, and marketable. Career planning is a part of career management which consist of activities which lead to achieving career goals, as well as finding their strength and weaknesses (Orpen 1994). Tasks are associated with exploring people’s interests and abilities; it also should include identifying new skills people want to develop. Career planning also involves drawing action plans and making sure the plans are realistic. Planning is one of the tasks which are compulsory to remain employed and competitive in employment market. Planning of career must include variety of strategies carried out in order for the individual to be successful. In order to develop a career plan individual have to go through four steps: self assessment which helps people identify their skills and qualities, research which is design to introduce individual to job from inside, decision making requires individual to choose one of the options available, and lastly taking actions such as looking for jobs as well as keeping in touch with the people in the field (Zigelstain, T). Each of these steps is design to help individual find his ideal career based on skills and attributes of individual. Research conducted by Orpen (1994) shows that the employees who plan and use different tactics are more successful in their careers even if the tactics do not work. The responsibility of managing and planning the careers for individuals lies between the employers and employees, mainly because employment is seen as a relationship between these two parties. It is very important that there are different tasks assign to this two parties in order for them to work effectively. Then again career management on the organization side helps empl oyee become more successful, encourages workers to identify what they want, it also support self-development (Barnet & Bradley 2007). Involvement of the organisation in career management brings confidence to an employee which makes them feel their careers are better. Taking in the account the fact that in today’s world people will frequently change jobs- as indicated by Bureau of Labour Statistics 64% of individuals change job between 5 to 14 times in their life (Loretto 2010)- responsibility of managing career is principally placed on the individuals themselves. In the conclusion it is vital to saying that the career management and planning is very important in individuals’ career. Tasks associated with planning and managing help people to uncover their skills and attributes which then can be used in their career. Managing careers is broadly responsibility of employees, but in order for the employees to take the right steps in managing the career help from employers in form of various activities is needed. If the help from the organizations is not significant there will be only little progress made in managing the careers (Newell 2000). At the same time due to changes in economy and organizations themselves people have to take control in planning and managing their careers on their own in order to make career effective and gain benefits as well as satisfaction from work and personal life. Without participation in the tasks associated with planning and managing careers individuals will find it very difficult to find the precise occupation in which they will feel comfortable. Concurrently share responsibility of career management improves performance as well as increases benefit for organization and individuals. There will be help available from your employer in managing and planning career but before individual or graduates get job they should take control of their career and life.