Manager Essay Example

Manager Essay Volkswagens U. S. subsidiary has launched a new pro-cess for allocating scarce IT budgets across a portfolio of project requests, in an effort to align IT activities better with corporate strategy. Now that they have used the process for the first time, though, and arrived at a list of approved projects, no one seems happy with the outcome. This case provides an opportunity to discuss the difficult governance issues that arise in making IT investment decisions. As you read the case, consider these questions: What is your assessment of the new process for managing priorities at Volkswagen? Are the criticisms Justified? Is it an improvement over the old process? Who controls the budgets from which IT prohects are funded at Volkswagen of America? Who should control these budgets? How should Matulovic respond to his fellow executives who are calling to ask him for special treatment outside the new priority management system? Dr. Uwe Matulovic, chief information officer (CIO) of Volkswagen of America (VWoA), placed the telephone in its cradle and leaned back in his chair, replaying the Just- completed conversation with one of his peers from the Executive Leadership Team (ELT). The call, Matulovic mused, had been similar to three others he had participated n that week, each with a different ELT member. The results of a new prioritization process†a list of IT projects that would be funded in 2004†had been unveiled only a few days earlier. But already a storm was gathering. The phone calls from other executives had common themes. All the callers had expressed concern that high priorities for their areas of the company had not been funded. We will write a custom essay sample on Manager specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Manager specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Manager specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Some had repeated views expressed during the prioritization process by people who worked for them about supposed categorization mistakes that penalized Copyright 2005, 2007 President and Fellows of Harvard College. Harvard Business School Case 606-003. Professor Robert D. Austin, Dr. Warren Ritchie, and Greggory Garrett prepared this case as the basis for class discussion rather than to illustrate effective or ineffective management. Certain details have been disguised. Reprinted by permission of Harvard Business School. their business units. And each of the calls had concluded with an informal request to insert an unfunded project (or two) into the IT departments work plans. We dont have to reopen the process, the most recent caller had said, but perhaps spare capacity might be applied to make some progress on this project in 2004†weve one this before, and it would mean a lot to our area and to the companys growth plans. The 10 business units that made up MOA had proposed more than 40 projects, with funding requirements totaling $210 million (US). A budget of only $60 million (an amount capped by Volkswagen Group (VWAG), the parent company of MOA) made some degree of disappointment inevitable. But the intensity of pushback against the new process was surprising. The ELT had endorsed the idea of improving upon the old way these decisions were made, via unstructured debate explicit and link projects and the core business processes they impacted with MOA corporate goals. An orderly, rational process would replace what, in the past, had sometimes been haphazard. But now, questions were being raised about whether the new process was right for MOA. 50 Module Three IT Leadership EXHIBIT 1 The Himalayas Chart Some business units had seen none of their projects funded. Whispers throughout the company suggested that the process was too theoretical and noted that IT infrastructure projects had been treated separately, not forced through the same process, which many considered unfair. As Matulovic peered through the window into an overcas t sky, he wondered whether he should order exceptions to the rocess. If a project was small and Just below the line of funded projects, maybe IT should figure out a way to get it done. Or maybe he should stand his ground and defend the new process. Matulovic did not work for the other members of the ELT, but he did have to work with them. Whatever he decided could certainly affect working relationships, so he would need to consider his options carefully. Backgrowid †Volkswagen of America Ferdinand Porsche designed the first Volkswagen automobiles during the 1930s in Germany. The original vehicles, targeted at the mass market (Volkswagen means, iterally, peoples car), were intended to transport a family of five at highway speeds, use modest amounts of fuel, and remain within financial reach of most people. The companys signature platform by the late 1940s was the Beetle, which, with its rounded styling and reliable air-cooled engine, became internationally popular. For about 20 years, sales of the Beetle hurtled skyward, propelling the companys total worldwide vehicle sales past a million in 1955 and toa high point in 1969. Although popularity of the Beetle declined throughout the 1970s and its importation was discontinued in the United States, late in that decade, production of Beetles in Latin America continued into the 1990s. It remains the best-selling car of all time. After peaking in the late 1960s, the pattern of sales for the North American subsidiary of Volkswagen settled into a trying cycle of ups and downs that became known, due to its Jagged contours, as the Himalayas Chart (see Exhibit 1). Other marketing nameplates have sold more units, but these nameplates were not the same vehicle in different geographies, nor did they retain as much consistency in core design as the classic Beetle.

Aquaculture Business Essays

Aquaculture Business Essays Aquaculture Business Essay Aquaculture Business Essay The main problem in the Organization aspect was having too many personnel which cause overlapping in functions. If these problems still continues, the time will come where the project will not be able to meet its target income, production and market demand. The cited problems were really major ones. Without water supply system, the project will not be able to continue because It Is about fishes where the most and basic need of the fish Is water. Although there Is water, If It was full of Impurities due to delay In drainage of water, the project will still fall. First of all, the health and needs of the fishes should be well-addressed to have a bountiful harvest in the future. The health of the fishes also signifies increase in the sales because consumers want products that are fresh, big and at the same time cheap. If they see that the fishes were relatively small, dry and ugly, the sales will surely go down even though it is cheap, The alternative formulation of the study is the improvement of the water supply yester and prevarication through Joint venture. However, these two should be both achieved to ensure the success of the project. If one of these two were not achieved, for example, there was no private sector willing to have a Joint venture on the project, the financial problems will still be present and Improvement of water supply system will not be done. The mall purpose of the Joint venture Is to have a permanent source of money for the different activities to still exist. Meanwhile, if the problems in the water supply still exist, the target demand, production and income of the LAD ill not be met. The delay in the drainage of the water in the pond as well as the impurities accumulated by the water causes low performance of the fishes and even their growth were affected. So, to meet the objectives and goals of the case study, the INTACT and LAD must work hard to make their alternative formulations come true. The recommendation of the author is good but there still remain the question whether a private sector will be willing to have a Joint venture to a project that still has no brand unlike other businesses. We all know that private sectors are profit- oriented people and as long as they do not see the profit that they want, even If the project has the potential to succeed In the future, they will not agree to a Joint venture. The recommendation of the alternately use of the six pumps will be truly helpful. In this way, if one gets broken during the process, there will be a spare one to De used. Water supply Is really very Important In ten success AT ten project. I nee alternately use of the pumps also decrease the larger problems in financial especially f all of them gets broken down at the same time. The maintenance of each pump will also be done regularly. In an aquaculture project, the main important things to consider are the water supply system, feed production and water drainage system. Fishes are living organisms that also need clean and healthy environment to function well. So, before starting a business like aquaculture, make sure that the proper requirements will be met and always be ready for problems to arise, especially in financial problems.

Determining If a Number Is Prime

Determining If a Number Is Prime A prime number is a numeral that is greater than 1 and cannot be divided evenly by any other number except 1 and itself. If a number can be divided evenly by any other number not counting itself and 1, it is not prime and is referred to as a composite number. Factors vs. Multiples When working with prime numbers, students should know the difference between factors and multiples. These two terms are easily confused, but factors are numbers that can be divided evenly into the given number, while multiples are the results of multiplying that number by another. Additionally, prime numbers are whole numbers that must be greater than one, and as a result, zero and one are not considered prime numbers, nor is any number less than zero; the number two is the first prime number, as it can only be divided by itself and the number 1. Using Factorization Using a process called factorization, mathematicians can quickly determine whether a number is prime. To use factorization, you need to know that a factor is any number that can be multiplied by another number to get the same result. For instance, the prime factors of the number 10 are 2 and 5 because these whole numbers can be multiplied by one another to equal 10. However, 1 and 10 are also considered factors of 10 because they can be multiplied by one another to equal 10. This is expressed in the prime factors of 10 as 5 and 2 since both 1 and 10 are not prime numbers. An easy way for students to use factorization to determine if a number is prime is by giving them concrete counting items like beans, buttons, or coins. They can use these to divide objects into ever-smaller groups. For example, they could divide 10 marbles into two groups of five or five groups of two. Using a Calculator After using the concrete method as described in the previous section, students can use calculators and the concept of divisibility to determine whether a number is prime. Have students take a calculator and key in the number to determine whether it is prime. The number should divide into a whole number. For example, take the number 57. Have students divide the number by 2. They will see that the quotient is 27.5, which is not an even number. Now have them divide 57 by 3. They will see that this quotient is a whole number: 19. So, 19 and 3 are factors of 57, which is, then, not a prime number. Other Methods Another way to find if a number is prime is by using a factorization tree, where students determine the common factors  of multiple numbers. For instance, if a student is factoring the number 30, she could begin with 10 x 3 or 15 x 2. In each case, she continues to factor- 10 (2 x 5) and 15 (3 x 5). The end result will yield the same prime factors: 2, 3 and 5 because 5 x 3 x 2 30, as does 2 x 3 x 5. Simple division with pencil and paper can also be a good method for teaching young learners how to determine prime numbers. First, divide the number by two, then by three, four, and five if none of those factors yields a whole number. This method is useful to help someone just starting out to understand what makes a number prime.

Week 1 discussion Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Week 1 discussion - Assignment Example One of the modern day’s innovations is a laptop. It is a portable computer, which has the capability of storing power for usage. It satisfies the innovative characteristic of novelty to the market arena (Shehabuddeen, 2007). Kocarey (2012) depicts that laptops are new products of the twentieth century, and constantly, new features are introduced in their design, an example is a webcam device (p.26). It is an example of a continuous evolutionary innovation. Bicycles are other examples of innovative products. Bicycle is a movable device, with two wheels, joined together by a straight metallic object, and navigated by use of a steering. There are many designs of bicycle products, and examples include mountain bikes, and utility bicycles. It is an example of a continuous evolutionary innovation. Its pace of innovation is high due to market competitions, and emerging needs. Photocopiers are an example of a revolutionary innovation. This is a machine that uses xerography or inkjet technology to produce copies of images (Deller et al, 2003). This kind of innovation satisfies the concept of market strategy as a characteristic of an innovation. This innovation amounts to risk taking since it introduces new technology into the market. Television set is an example of a continuous evolutionary innovation. A television set is electronic equipment that has devices such as a turner, speaker and a screen, for purposes of displaying a picture and a message (Deller et al, 2003). Over time, television sets have evolved from analogue to digital systems. One of the characteristics it displays is the intensity of the idea in place. The idea in place is a game changer, since digital productions are complex in nature, ensuring the production of high quality images. Mobile handsets are other examples of an innovation. This is an example of a continuous evolutionary innovation, and they emanate

Teaching music to Children in a General Education Classroom Essay

Teaching music to Children in a General Education Classroom - Essay Example According to Joanne, (2), the cognitive developmental theory is fundamental in understanding how minds make logic of music as it is heard. Some of the goals include imparting formal and intuitive knowledge. Joanne, (2), argues that, a teacher is supposed to learn significantly during the music experiments. The cognitive theory is fundamental in helping the teacher to succeed in balancing the mismatch of assumptions between a student and a teacher. Similarly, the cognitive theory enables a teacher to acknowledge the children’s formal and informal ways of understanding. Another goal that a teacher can achieve by applying the cognitive theory is the ability to use the children’s descriptions as vital evidence in understanding their musical development (Joanne, 4). Equally, the theory enables teachers to draw conclusions from the children’s oral drawings, imagery and spatial ordering of such things like bells to disclose the clandestine and interior nature of inner i nquiry and approximating an indisputable knowledge of musical development.... I agree with his theory Jon Dewey believed that, children be encouraged to develop free personalities and taught on how to think and make judgments. I agree with this theory Maria, Montessori believed in individualized education. I agree with this theory John Holt, the pioneer and advocate for Home Education. Holt believed that children study best when; they are allowed to pursue their own interests rather than imposing learning on them. I agree with this theory. Marie Clay, the pioneer of Balanced Literacy Model and Reading Recovery. Marie believed the reading recovery component served well in lifting the low achievers. I agree with this theory. Jerome Bruner, the pioneer of discovery theory. Bruner discovered psychology and embraced a constructivist approach. Bruner believed that the discovery theory based on the assumption that a child learns and remembers better, what he/she discovers. Conversely, Bruner believed that, the children are able to recall new information if they assoc iate it to something they already understand. I agree with his theory. Howard Gardener, the pioneer of multiple intelligence theory. Gardener believed that children developed diverse aspects of intelligence. I agree with this theory (Joanne, 6). John Holt’s theory of advocating for Home Education best fits my interests and a fully align to it. Choose two instruments on pages 16-19 that you would like to share with your children. Name the instruments. Describe the instruments. Describe how the instruments are played? How will you use the instruments with your children? 1. Jingle Bells A bell is a musical instrument that produces different sounds when played. A bell is played by using a stick or a small metal rod or shaking. The instrument can be used to teach the

French Revolution Essay Example for Free

French Revolution Essay Although an autocrat, Napoleon is revered by many as the son of the French Revolution as he single-handedly implemented the ideas of â€Å"Liberty, Equality and Fraternity†. Napoleon implemented the ideologies of French Revolution which were derived from the Enlightenment by introducing the Napoleonic Code, lycee and baculerrate education, constitutions and meritocracy. These reforms could have only been implemented by a strong ruler with the power of the modern state tailored to suit his motives of maintaining his power. During the start of the French Revolution the Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen was not really put into complete practice. During the reign of terror, the nation grew weary of terror and turmoil and therefore welcomed Napoleon’s rule. Ten years of upheaval had the firm rule much more appealing. Napoleon seized power and was welcomed by the nation even though he was an autocrat as he brought the end to the terror and started executing various enlightened ideals. During the first few months of Napoleon’s rule were most productive. After seizing power in coup d’à ©tat in 1799 and forming a consulate he passed new constitutions and with popular approval in 1804 became an emperor with absolute power. Napoleon like most autocrats had certain motives for implementing the radical reforms of the French Revolution. It allowed his to maintain his position as an autocrat by giving reforms so people would be happy and continue supporting him. By using meritocracy he rewarded only those that earned his loyalty and by improving society earned the support of people. He used his popularity and charisma to maintain order which was crucial for Napoleon in order to survive being an autocrat. Napoleon used his powerful position as the ruler of France to bring reforms as it was an instrument to maintaining his power. He brought about freedom of religion by the Concordat of Bologna in 1801 which allowed state to control religious affairs and allowed Catholics to practice their religion freely. He bargained with the middle classes and made the famous Napoleonic code which simplified the French laws which used to favour the nobles. He made enlightened laws like freedom of speech, equality before law, protection of property etc. He lowered the feudal taxes on the peasants and granted them liberty. He created meritocracy and education by introducing the baculerrate and lycee and favouring only those that worked harder than being born into a noble family this created more equality. Napoleon executed the ideals of French Revolution not only in France but spread them to countries that he defeated or made allies with. He did this by ended feudalism and manorialism and reformed the political and economic systems by introducing constitutions. He also simplified the complex structure of Germany and Italy and this brought about the rise of nationalism which was the idea of fraternity of the French Revolution. Napoleon is widely accredited to spreading the ideals of the French Revolution to all of Europe.

Evolutionism :: Science, Theories, Darwinism

What is Evolution? Evolution is the theory that all living things in the world have come into being through a non-guided, natural process starting from a primeval mass of subatomic particles and radiation, over 20 billion years ago (History). This theory says that all living things have increased intelligence or have changed in other ways over many, many years.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The theory of evolution hasn’t been around for ever. Before the 20th century, people wanted to understand the world around them, but many of them believed that God created everything. A small number of scientists believed that living things had evolved from each other and there was no God. The theory was sort of a dream or manifestation without any original grounds for belief. Over time more and more people looked into evolutionism and they developed possibilities of how it occurred. Many theories were developed, but someone always disproved them. Recently with the discovery of genetic mutation and a new understanding of genes and DNA, the evidence supporting evolution has greatly increased.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Charles Darwin was one scientist who helped to increase the evidence supporting evolution. Darwin developed the idea of â€Å"natural selection† where living things that reproduced in large numbers and survived became dominant and other living things adapted to survive, or they died. Francis Crick, a scientist, co-discovered DNA which opened new doors to the idea of evolutionism (History). DNA is the pattern by which people are created as individuals. Now Evolutionism is the only origin of life that can be taught in public schools. However, in private