Organizational Culture and Cultural Values Essay Example for Free

Organizational Culture and Cultural Values Essay One of the most prominent instrumental values of 3M’s culture, and which has contributed to its success is employee risk-taking and encouragement of the same (Mitsch, 1990). 3M’s policy of creating room for employees to experiment and conduct research means that the researchers are more exposed to the risk of failure than they would be were risk-taking not encouraged. However, risk-taking also enhances chances of making improvements on existing products and developing new products. Another instrumental value in 3M is efficiency. Management of new technologies and innovations, assessing, reacting to and anticipating market trends, and assessing customer needs can be very challenging for the management. Research and Development can be costly yet some results are not always positive or available for immediate use. The management of available resources requires efficiency in management. Efficiency is therefore central to 3M’s culture. An important terminal value of 3M’s culture is high quality of output to meet customer expectations. 3M improves the quality of its output by encouraging research and development for long-term and short-term purposes. By encouraging risk-taking, allowing researchers to spend 15 percent of their time researching for new products and technologies, and scaling up RD budget from 4. 6 percent to 6. 5 percent within a decade, 3M declares its intention to ensure that consumers get a continous supply of high quality products (Mitsch, 1990). A second terminal value is innovation. As noted above, 3M attaches high premium on research and development of new technologies and improvement of existing technologies and products (Mitsch, 1990). Innovation is one of the factors which separate market leaders from mediocre organizations and 3M invests heavily to sharpen its innovative edge. Question 2: Human interactions, property rights and ethics do influence 3M’s cultural values. The involvement of marketing, manufacturing, quality, laboratory, financial and packaging staff in production of new products promotes healthy relationships between staff members working with the different units. This team-work reduces the frequency of inter-departmental rivalry and exchange of blame for mistakes and failures. Healthy interactions among units and sub-units are instrumental to increased productivity and staff motivation. An important property right at 3M is access to and right to use laboratory resources and technologies developed within one’s operating unit, as well as technologies developed by other units. A leading cause of failure in many organizations is unhealthy rivalry among units, which lead to some units keeping technologies and resources to themselves and barring others from accessing them. The management of 3M ensures that workers, regardless of which unit they come from, can access laboratory resources and technologies easily (Mitsch, 1990). Such property rights encourage inter-unit co-operation and cohesion, reduce RD costs, and promote productivity in the long-term. They also enrich the organization’s cultural values. Reference Mitsch, R. (1990). Case: Three Roads to Innovation. Journal of Business Strategy (Sept/Oct 1990), pp 18-21.

War CANNOT Be Justified by any Party or any Reason Essay -- Critical Th

Have you heard about Korean War, which occurred in June, 25, 1950? The conflict between ideologies caused this war with tens of millions killed, millions of families separated, the country reduced to rubble, and a huge permanent scar on Korea’s culture. Then, Vietnam War, Gulf War, or Iraq war can sound familiar to you. Let’s change point to the number of dead bodies from wars themselves. Can you guess how many people got killed during all of those war periods? Only for Vietnam War, the true civilians of Vietnam War were two millions in the north, and another two millions in the south, and military causalities were 1.1 million killed and six hundreds thousand wounded during war. To finish a war, how many innocent people and soldiers have to get killed? Even if a war ended, who had the responsibilities about those deaths? Most of the modern wars were resulted from conflict of ideologies such as communism and capitalism. Since international relationships were settled down among countries, a war is not any more about one or two countries. For example, supporting troops were sent to South Korea during the Korean War by 16 different countries under U.N order. No matter which part achieved a victory, damages after war remained and hurt all of them. Can war be justified for any party or any reason? The answer is â€Å"No.† St. Augustine enunciated that a war can be justified only â€Å"when it is fought for a just cause† (qtd. in â€Å"Peace and War†). But what is a â€Å"just cause†? Everybody has a different definition and it can be totally subjective. In most modern cultures or most countries, war is accepted as an effective and justifiable way of protecting national interests and achieving diplomatic goals. It can be the just cause as St. Augu... ...ar veterans suffered brain damage after chemical exposure, study says† – November.30.1999 â€Å"Veterans with Gulf War syndrome have damage in specific, primitive portion of nervous system† – September.24.2004 â€Å"Guilty of war crimes - or victim of a feud with US soldiers?† – May.22.2003 â€Å"The desert ecology: another war victim† – March.27.2003 â€Å"Clinton announces new money for Gulf War syndrome research† – November.8.1997 â€Å"Gulf Link : Office of the Special Assistant for Gulf War Illnesses†

Solutions to the Cape Town electricity cost problem

Introduction It is a known fact that the cost of electricity is incising at a dramatic graduated table. The City of Cape Town Electricity Department anticipates that the monetary value of electricity would hold perchance quadrupled ( 415 % ) between 2006/2007-2015/2016 ( City of Cape Town 2014 ) . At the minute electricity is traveling up by an norm of 19 % a twelvemonth ( South African Tourism, 2014 ) . Therefore salvaging electricity isn’t merely a sort act to maintain the universe viridity but instead assist one salvage their difficult earned Rands. The money which is being saved can besides be put towards medium and long term ends in assisting one save electricity. A few simple actions is all it can take to cut down the sum of electricity you use. After roll uping a spider graph, our extended research on current ingestion of 10, The Mills, was legible and easy to see what contraptions contributed the most to our electricity measure. These contraptions were chiefly found within the kitchen ( electric refrigerator, range and boiler ) as the level consists of 3 people who all cook separately for themselves. The other chief subscriber is the geyser. A list of betterments have been written up ordered in short term which for a pupil would be the imitate and free alterations they can do to their life manner, along with medium and long term alterations that can assist better their electricity ingestion.Short term investing Internet Explorer. The no cost optionAll these options listed below are immediate short term declarations that involve R0 but are simply a simple behavior alteration. Many geysers are set to the temperature of 70Â ° Celsius ; nevertheless one can turn the temperature of the geyser down to 60Â ° Celsius and still bask a nice hot shower and at the same clip salvage 5 % on your electricity measure ( City of Cape Town, 2014 ) . By cut downing the temperature less energy ( electricity ) is consumed. Turning the geyser off during the twenty-four hours when you are non at place besides helps salvage electricity ( Jones, 2012:4 ) . Using less hot H2O can besides assist cut down electricity ingestion, for illustration taking short showers alternatively of bathing. Fill the boiler with the right sum of H2O needed ( State of California, 2013 ) . This may be seen as a surprise to many but use the dish washer and allow the dishes air dry alternatively of rinsing dishes by manus ( City of Cape Town, 2014 ) . However for this to be effectual the dish washer must be filled to its maximal capacity. Last use cold H2O where possible when making the wash, the lavation machine uses 90 % of its energy heating the H2O, by rinsing your apparels at 30-40Â °C one can salvage 4 % ( uSwitch, 2014 ) . Be a speedy chef and utilize the microwave for cooking alternatively of the range or oven as it uses about two-thirds less energy than the range ( State of California, 2013 ) . However if one must utilize the oven, cook a few repasts to acquire the most out of holding your oven on and if the range must be used, fit the pot size to the right home base on the range ( Grosvendor, 2012:25 ) . Filling up the electric refrigerator can besides assist one save electricity for holding the electric refrigerator full keeps the electric refrigerator from warming up excessively fast when the door is opened, leting the electric refrigerator to work less to maintain cool ( uSwitch, 2014 ) . If you are still utilizing the normal incandescent bulbs, exchange the visible radiations off when you leave the room. Switch over the Wi-Fi router off when it is non, hence at dark and when you leave for work in the forenoon. In standby manner contraptions can frequently pull up to 20 % of electricity therefore it is best advised to exchanging contraptions and equipment away at the wall ( City of Cape Town 2014 ) . One can salvage a batch more electricity by making this instead than go forthing contraption on standby manner which we frequently do. If you are up to re puting linear redstem storksbills and dismaies everyday so an option is turning off designated stopper switches on the chief switch board. This will assist you save electricity as no contraptions will be on standby or pulling unneeded energy.Medium term investings ( under R1000 )A good start would be to put in efficient illuming. Replacing all the old incandescent bulbs with Compact Fluorescent Lamps ( CFLs ) can assist salvage electricity as they use 75 % less power ( City of Cape Town 2014 ) . LEDs are even more effectual and efficient than CFLs and last 130 times longer ( Jones, 2012:16 ) . However they are more expensive. There is still t he option of turning visible radiations of when you exit the room to assist salvage electricity. Receiving hot H2O consumes 40 % of the electrical measure at the terminal of every month ( The SEO Company, 2014 ) . Within an hr a geysers temperature will drop 1Â °C and energy is invariably needed to reheat the geysers H2O ( City of Cape Town 2014 ) . On mean the geyser turns on 25-30 times a twenty-four hours to keep its original heat ( The SEO Company, 2014 ) . A average term investing can be insulating the geyser with a geyser cover along with 3meters of the geysers plumbing pipes. By insulating the geyser heat loss through the steel shell is reduced, the hot H2O is kept hotter for longer ( Grosvendor, 2012:35 ) . This consequences in the geyser non turning on every bit often as it would to heat H2O up. By put ining a geyser cover the energy usage can be reduced to about half of its old ingestion. Installing an efficient shower caput can besides assist cut down electricity costs. By cut downing the sum of hot H2O needed for a shower, money can be saved by necessitating less electricity to heat up the H2O ( The SEO Company, 2014 ) . By looking at this tabular array it is apparent that a shower caput can cut down electricity ingestion.Ordinary Shower HeadFlow RateWater Savings LitresElectricity SavingsskWhMonetary SavingssRands15 liters per minute37 800873R 887.8018 liters per minute45 3601 053R 1 053.3620 liters per minute50 4001 170R 1 170.40Formulated by utilizing info given on: The SEO Company 2014. Salvaging energy.SEO. [ Online ] . Available: hypertext transfer protocol: //savingenergy.co.za/saving. [ 25 February 2014 ] .Long term investingsInstalling a geyser timer can assist cut down electricity ingestion on the geyser. The simple device is programmed by you which controls the clip in which the geyser turns on and off ( The SEO Company, 2014 ) . As antecedently mentioned the geyser turns on every clip it needs to set to its original heat or eat H2O up. The timer is designed to command the geysers behaviours. The geyser can be set to be turned off during the dark and come back on during the early hours of the forenoon and back off when everyone is at work and out the house. Installing dual glazing on Windowss can assist cut up to 50 % of heat loss ; this will assist in winter as one can cut down the sum of electrical warming contraptions that consume a batch of electricity ( U.S Department of Energy 2014 ) . Replacing electrical kitchen contraption with gas contraptions ( gas range, oven and kettle ) could be an alternate to cut down electricity ingestion. A heat pump is a device that uses a little sum of energy to travel heat from one location to another. They are by and large used to draw heat out of the land or air to heat up a house ( The SEO Company, 2014 ) . The procedure can besides be reversed and alternatively of warming, it can assist chill the house. A heat pump besides offers one a manner to utilize electricity expeditiously when heating H2O. Installing a solar geyser or solar panels for the house can assist cut down 1s electricity measure along with all the above accommodations ( Oxlade, 2013:28 ) . Fun and Freaky Facts:City of Cape Town, 2014 Leaving a computing machine proctor on nightlong can blow every bit much energy as doing 800 A4 photocopies. Overfilling an electric boiler can blow adequate energy to run a Television set for 26 hours. Lighting an empty life room or bed room overnight, can blow adequate energy to do 1000 cups of tea. Televisions, DVD machines, Laptops, computing machine and picture machines left on ‘Stand-By’ continue to utilize at least half the sum of electricity they use when they are turned on. Mentions: City of Cape Town 2014. Energy salvaging tips.City of Cape Town. [ Online ] . Available: hypertext transfer protocol: //www.capetown.gov.za/en/EnvironmentalResourceManagement/tips/Pages/EnergySavingTips.aspx. [ 25 February 2014 ] . City of Cape Town 2014. Exceed 10 best ways to salvage electricity.City of Cape Town. [ Online ] . Available: hypertext transfer protocol: //www.capetown.gov.za/EN/ENVIRONMENTALRESOURCEMANAGEMENT/ENERGYEFFICIENCY/Pages/Top10BestWaysToSaveElectricity.aspx. [ 25 February 2014 ] . Grosvendor, M. 2012.Energy-Saving Tips For Dummie.America: John Wiley & A ; Sons. Jones, E. 2012.Energy Saving Tips. London: Amazon Oxlade, C. 2013.Electricity. London: Raintree. South African Tourism 2014. Electricity. South Africa Inspiring New Things. [ Online ] . Available: hypertext transfer protocol: //www.southafrica.net/za/en/travel-tips/entry/travel-tip-electricity. [ 25 February 2014 ] . State Government of Victoria 2014. Exceed 10 ways to salvage power. Switch over on. [ Online ] . Available: hypertext transfer protocol: //www.switchon.vic.gov.au/how-can-i-take-charge-of-my-power-bill/top-10-ways-to-save-power. [ 25 February 2014 ] . State of California 2013. Summer Time Energy-Saving Tips.Consumer Energy Centre. [ Online ] . Available: hypertext transfer protocol: //www.consumerenergycenter.org/tips/summer.html. [ 25 February 2014 ] . The International Energy Agency. 2005.Salvaging Electricity in a Hurry: Covering with Temporary Shortfalls in Electricity Supplies. America: OECD Publishing. The SEO Company 2014. Salvaging energy.SEO. [ Online ] . Available: hypertext transfer protocol: //savingenergy.co.za/saving. [ 25 February 2014 ] . U.S Department of Energy 2014. Energy Savers Guide: Tips on Salvaging Money and Energy at Home.U.S Department of Energy.[ Online ] . Available: hypertext transfer protocol: //energy.gov/energysaver/articles/energy-savers-guide-tips-saving-money-and-energy-home. [ 25 February 2014 ] . uSwitch 2014. 19 free energy salvaging tips. uSwitch. [ Online ] . Available: hypertext transfer protocol: //www.uswitch.com/energy-saving/guides/free-energy-saving-tips/ . [ 25 February 2014 ] .

How great websites help improve your business Essay

Mission Statement Our diversity mission is to foster a culture that integrates diversity and inclusion into all aspects of the business in order to further fulfill dreams through the experiences of motorcycling.   Vision Statement Harley-Davidson values, embraces and celebrates diversity in order to develop and continuously improve mutually beneficial relationships with stakeholders to fulfill dreams and provide extraordinary customer experiences in an increasingly dynamic, diverse and global market.   Objectives   Create a viable brand that would effectively compete within the Non-Menthol, Lo-Fi category. Attract more young adult (25-49) male smokers into the Lorillard family.   Develop a highly targeted â€Å"Niche Brand’ that would generate modest share goals.   Build strong brand awareness and imaginary.   Gain trial and repeat purchase. Create consumer confidence.   Strategies MARKET PENETRATION Get some more market share from the existing market, like U. S, U. K, and Japan etc through more marketing techniques like advertising. Harley-Davidson has a good brand name so it’s easy for them to eat up the competitor market share if they can provide some more customer benefit. PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT Younger generation and female are now coming to this segment so expand the motor cycle segments to younger generation and females.   MARKET DEVELOPMENT Harley-Davidson can bring in their vehicle to Asian countries like India and China, because these countries have a high population and the market potential is also high.   DIVERSIFICATION Bring new bikes to attract customer and market.   INVESTING IN THE BRAND The Company is reinforcing its support of the Harley-Davidson brand, accelerating its ongoing marketing efforts to reach out to emerging rider groups, including younger and diverse riders. In addition, the Company will continue to focus on product innovations targeted at specific growth opportunities with its strong core customer base and new riders.   ADJUSTING THE COST STRUCTURE Consolidate its two engine and transmission plants in the Milwaukee area into its facility in Menomonee Falls, Wis.   OBTAINING ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR HDFS The Company said it is evaluating a range of options to provide the necessary liquidity for the wholesale and retail lending activities of Harley-Davidson Financial Services (HDFS) Recommended Mission To be branded as the best motorcycle available in the world. Recommended Vision The best quality motorcycle, motorcycle products and financial services will be provided worldwide is the commitment of Harley-Davidson. Customer satisfaction is our motto and the Harley-Davidson customers can experience the taste of reality of motorcycle dreams by relaying their satisfaction on us. Harley- Davidson is dedicated to use the advanced technology to produce the most superior motorcycle in domestic and international markets. Stay competitive and continue growth worldwide remain profitable and survive is our philosophy. Employees of Harley-Davidson are the foundation of the company and they are the driving force behind the Harley-Davidson name. The total team effort of Harley-Davidson employees is devoted to fulfilling dreams of customers and we believe that there is not a motorcycle riding experience like a Harley-Davidson’s. Excellence is our push though our Harley-Davidson bar and shield logo that says superior quality. Honesty and customer loyalty and these morals are the heartbeat of Harley-Davidson organization. Harley-Davidson do our part in supporting all environmental laws in every country we do business. Determination and commitment is the place where Harley-Davidson intends to stay.   External Opportunities The European demand for Harley Davidson is the highest in the international market and represents the single largest motorcycle market in the world Women and younger riders are increasing becoming interested in bikes   The international heavy weight market is growing and is now larger than the U. S. heavyweight market Market share increasing in Europe and Asia for the last two years   Increasing demand in US markets for bike. Buell division needs to continue to produce a quality motorcycle under Harley’s brand name.   Competitive Profile Matrix: Critical success factor| Harley- Davidson| Honda| | Weight| Rating| Score| Weight| Rating| Score| Advertising| 0. 10| 4| 0. 40| 0. 10| 3| 0. 30| Product Quality| 0. 15| 4| 0. 60| 0. 15| 3| 0. 45| Price Competitiveness| 0. 20| 1| 0. 20| 0. 20| 3| 0. 60| Management| 0. 10| 3| 0. 30| 0. 10| 4| 0. 40| Financial Position| 0. 15| 2| 0. 30| 0. 10| 4| 0. 40| Customer Loyalty| 0. 15| 4| 0. 60| 0. 15| 2| 0. 30| Global Expansion| 0. 05| 3| 0. 15| 0. 05| 4| 0. 20| Market Share| 0. 15| 2| 0. 30| 0. 15| 3| 0. 45| Total| 1| | 2. 85| 1| | 3. 10|   External Factor Evaluation Matrix Key External Factors| Weight| Rating| Score| OPPORTUNITIES| | | | The European demand for Harley Davidson is the highest in the international market and represents the single largest motorcycle market in the world| 0. 15 | 4| 0. 60| The international heavy weight market is growing and is now larger than the U. S. heavyweight market| 0. 15 | 4| 0. 60| Women and younger riders are increasing becoming interested in bikes| 0. 10 | 3| 0. 30| Market share increasing in Europe and Asia for the last two years| 0. 05 | 2| 0. 10| Increasing demand in US markets for bikes| 0. 05 | 2| 0. 10| Customers value quality parts| 0. 02 5| 1| 0. 025| THREATS| | | | Harleys ongoing capacity restraints caused a shortage supply and a loss in domestic market share in recent years| 0. 15 | 4| 0. 60| Harleys average buying age is 42 years old and increasing| 0. 05| 2| 0. 10| The European Union’s motorcycles noise standards are more stringent than those of Environmental Protection Agencies in theU. S and increased environmental stand| 0. 05 | 2| 0. 10| Some competitors of Harley Davidson have larger financial andmarketing resources and they are more diversified| 0. 05 | 2| 0. 10| Environmental protection laws| 0. 15| 4| 0. 60| Buell division needs to continue to produce a quality motorcycleunder Harley’s brand name| 0. 025| 1| 0. 025| Total | 1| | 3. 25|   Internal Strength   The standard and performance segments of Harley Davidson make up 70% of the European heavy weight motorcycle market. Harley-Davidson operates in two segments: Harley-Davidson motorcycles & related products and HDFS (Harley-Davidson Financial Services).   Harley-Davidson is the only major American heavyweight motorcycle manufacturer.   Strong brand name.   The HOG (Harley Owners Group), which have a 7, 50,000 members worldwide is the industry’s largest company sponsored motorcycle enthusiast organization.   Buell Riders Adventure Group (BRAG) was also formed recent Customization of the bikes, this is Harley-Davidson’s major revenue maker. Harley-Davidson has a good marketing division and it’s divided as dealer promotions, customer events, magazine and direct-mail advertising, and public relations.   Internal Weakness   High price Harley-Davidson has problems in gaining more market share in some European countries (That’s one of the main markets for Heavyweight motorcycles outside U. S).   They didn’t yet start its sales in India, one of the biggest markets. Required production is not met, analyzing the future of Heavyweight motorcycle market.   Recommended specific Strategies and Implementations. MARKET PENETRATION   Get some more market share from the existing market, like U. S, U. K, and Japan etc through more marketing techniques like advertising. Harley-Davidson has a good brand name so it’s easy for them to eat up the competitor market share if they can provide some more customer benefit.   Competition is high in this segment mostly in U. S so market penetration can be a good choice for the company.   Expand the HOG (Harley Owners Group) to Asian countries, if the company can provide the customer satisfaction that they are providing to the U.S customers to the Asian customers they can increase the sales. PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT Younger generation and female are now coming to this segment so expand the motor cycle segments to younger generation and females.   In Europe they can increase or expand the Buell’s market share by introducing new motorcycles.   MARKET DEVELOPMENT   Harley-Davidson can bring in their vehicle to Asian countries like India and China, because these countries have a high population and the market potential is also high. The cost to bring in the old vehicles (old product) to India is so much difficult because there are so much environmental laws are there which won’t allow that type of vehicles to come to India, and its difficult that taxes and levis are high in India so starting new plant in India can solve this problem. Negotiations with the Government can solve these problems.   DIVERSIFICATION   Bring in new vehicles to new markets like India and china is a good choice, but it’s too costly.   Bringing new types of recreational vehicles is a best choice.   Recommended Long-Term Objectives. Establish Harley-Davidson as a recognized leader in the development and participation of its people, to maximize each employee’s potential.   Grow and maintain demand by providing exceptional product styling, performance, quality, reliability and customer service at prices our customers can afford.   Meet the demand by expanding our existing distribution and manufacturing capacity, and, where necessary, adding new production and retail distribution points.   Improve information services capabilities to enable all stakeholders to easily do business with Harley-Davidson, through the creative integration of information technologies. Drive financial results to the levels achieved by acknowledged high-performing companies.   Recommended Procedure for Strategy Review and Evaluation   Review underlying bases of strategy   Once again prepare all the internal and external analysis.   Compare the already prepared analysis with the one which will be prepared after the new strategy implementation. Measuring organization preferences   Analyze all financial ratios current and the future.   If any advantage, then implement the new strategy, otherwise continue with the present one.

Hedy Lamarr Essays

Hedy Lamarr Essays Hedy Lamarr Essay Hedy Lamarr Essay Now I wish to talk about barriers that women amateurs face in working in science and technology. Lamarr is a great example of how an amateur can both overcome and be stopped by barriers. Just a little background info, Hedy Lamarr was an Austrian –American actress who was also known to be the most beautiful woman in Hollywood in her time. You might think what does she have to do with what have been said before this. Well, she was the brains who basically started it all, the spread-spectrum technology which enabled Wi-Fi and cellular networks to be available to us today! Lamarr knew about a real problem. It was during World War 2 when she thought, how can one safely control a torpedo with a radio signal? This was important, since torpedoes were not very accurate and the ability to remotely control them could be immensely valuable. The difficulty in using a radio signal to control a torpedo is essentially the problem of jamming. If you tried to control your torpedo by a signal, eventually the enemy will find out the frequency you are using. Once this is known they could jam your control signal by putting out a strong noise signal on the given frequency. Lamarr had a solution. Her brilliant idea was to use frequency hopping- her invention. Lamarr also found a co-inventor, George Antheil, who was also an avant-garde composer, who laid out a system based on 88 frequencies, corresponding to the number of keys on a piano, using perforated paper rolls which would turn in sync with one another, transmitting and receiving ever-changing frequencies, preventing interception and jamming. They then submitted the frequency hopping device to the national inventors council where they went on to file a patent application. Unfortunately, she did not succeed to release this idea to help during the war. There were other priorities faced by the US military, along with the decreasing number of resources that were being used to make other equipments and atomic bombs. Also, she isnt your usual inventor. Who would believe a Hollywood actress could help invent something useful for the war? Furthermore, she was ahead of technology. Spread-spectrum requires a fairly powerful digital computational ability. The technology that was available in 1940? s was very crude, and it is likely that it was essentially impossible to make her ideas work. BUT twenty years after its conceptualization, during the Cuban missile crisis, the first instance of large-scale military deployment of Lamarr and Antheils frequency hopping technology was implemented not for the remote-controlled guidance of torpedoes, but to provide secure communications among the ships involved in the naval blockade. Lamarr’s brilliant idea is used today in wireless communication. Not exactly as she envisioned in her original patented work, but nevertheless in ways that are clearly traceable to her ideas. Lamarr eventually got the recognition she deserved but 3 years before her death. She and her co-inventor Antheil won the 1997 Electronic Frontier Foundation Pioneer Award. She also won the BULBIE that is called the â€Å"Oscar† of inventing. Hedy Lamarr had proved to being more than just a â€Å"pretty face†. My resources: http://rjlipton. wordpress. com/2010/07/25/hedy-lamarr-the-inventor/

The Goliad Massacre - Texas Revolution

The Goliad Massacre - Texas Revolution The Goliad Massacre: On March 27, 1836, over three hundred rebellious Texan prisoners, most of them captured a few days before while battling the Mexican army, were executed by Mexican forces. The Goliad Massacre became a rallying cry for other Texans, who shouted Remember the Alamo! and Remember Goliad! at the decisive Battle of San Jacinto. The Texas Revolution: After years of antagonism and tension, settlers in the area of modern-day Texas decided to break off from Mexico in 1835. The movement was mainly led by USA-born Anglos who spoke little Spanish and who had migrated there legally and illegally, although the movement had some support among native Tejanos, or Texas-born Mexicans. The fighting broke out on October 2, 1835 in the town of Gonzales. In December, the Texans captured the town of San Antonio: on March 6, the Mexican army took it back at the bloody Battle of the Alamo. Fannin in Goliad: James Fannin, a veteran of the siege of San Antonio and one of the only Texans with any actual military training, was in command of about 300 troops in Goliad, about 90 miles away from San Antonio. Before the Battle of the Alamo, William Travis had sent repeated pleas for aid, but Fannin never came: he cited logistics as the cause. Meanwhile, refugees came pouring through Goliad on their way east, telling Fannin and his men of the advance of the massive Mexican army. Fannin had occupied a small fort in Goliad and felt secure in his position. Retreat to Victoria: On March 11, Fannin received word from Sam Houston, overall commander of the Texan army. He learned of the fall of the Alamo and received orders to destroy the defensive works at Goliad and retreat to the town of Victoria. Fannin lingered, however, as he had two units of men in the field, under Amon King and William Ward. Once he learned that King, Ward and their men had been captured, he set out, but by then the Mexican army was very close. The Battle of Coleto: On March 19, Fannin finally left Goliad, at the head of a long train of men and supplies. The many carts and supplies made the going very slow. In the afternoon, Mexican cavalry appeared: the Texans struck up a defensive position. The Texans fired their long rifles and cannons at the Mexican cavalry, inflicting heavy damage, but during the fighting, the main Mexican host under the command of Josà © Urrea arrived, and they were able to surround the rebel Texans. As night fell, the Texans ran out of water and ammunition and were forced to surrender. This engagement is known as the Battle of Coleto, as it was fought near Coleto Creek. Terms of Surrender: The terms of the Texans surrender are unclear. There was much confusion: no one spoke both English and Spanish, so negotiations were carried out in German, as a handful of soldiers on each side spoke that language. Urrea, under orders from Mexican General Antonio Là ³pez de Santa Anna, could not accept anything but an unconditional surrender. Texans present at the negotiations recall that they were promised that they would be disarmed and sent to New Orleans if they promised not to return to Texas. It may be that Fannin agreed to an unconditional surrender on the basis that Urrea would put in a good word for the prisoners with General Santa Anna. It was not to be. Imprisonment: The Texans were rounded up and sent back to Goliad. They thought they were to be deported, but Santa Anna had other plans. Urrea tried hard to convince his commander that the Texans should be spared, but Santa Anna would not be budged. The rebel prisoners were put under the command of Colonel Nicols de la Portilla, who received clear word from Santa Anna that they were to be executed. The Goliad Massacre: On March 27, the prisoners were rounded up and marched out of the fort at Goliad. There were somewhere between three and four hundred of them, which included all of the men captured under Fannin as well as some others that had been taken previously. About a mile away from Goliad, the Mexican soldiers opened fire on the prisoners. When Fannin was told he was to be executed, he gave his valuables to a Mexican officer asking that they be given to his family. He also requested not to be shot in the head and to have a decent burial: he was shot in the head, looted, burned and dumped into a mass grave. About forty wounded prisoners, who had been unable to march, were executed at the fort. Legacy of the Goliad Massacre: It is unknown how many Texan rebels were executed that day: the number is somewhere between 340 and 400. Twenty-eight men escaped in the confusion of the execution and a handful of physicians were spared. The bodies were burned and dumped: for weeks, they were left to the elements and gnawed on by wild animals. Word of the Goliad Massacre quickly spread throughout Texas, infuriating the settlers and rebel Texans. Santa Annas order to kill the prisoners worked both for and against him: it assured that settlers and homesteaders in his path quickly packed up and left, many of them not stopping until they had crossed back into the United States. However, the rebellious Texans were able to use Goliad as a rallying cry and recruitment soared: some no doubt signed on believing that the Mexicans would execute them even if they were not in arms when captured. On April 21, less than a month later, General Sam Houston engaged Santa Anna at the decisive Battle of San Jacinto. The Mexicans were taken by surprise by the afternoon attack and completely routed. Enraged Texans shouted Remember the Alamo! and Remember Goliad! as they slaughtered the terrified Mexicans as they tried to flee. Santa Anna was captured and forced to sign documents recognizing Texas independence, effectively ending the war. The Goliad Massacre marked an ugly moment in the history of the Texas Revolution. It led at least partially to the Texan victory at the Battle of San Jacinto, however. With the rebels at the Alamo and Goliad dead, Santa Anna felt confident enough to divide his force, which in turn allowed Sam Houston to defeat him. The rage felt by the Texans at the massacre manifested itself in a willingness to fight that was evident at San Jacinto. Source: Brands, H.W. Lone Star Nation: the Epic Story of the Battle for Texas Independence. New York: Anchor Books, 2004.

Security awareness Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Security awareness - Article Example security awareness campaign will ensure the employees are informed and updated on various security issues that are vital in protection of the company’s resources. Security awareness campaign will aim at creating an environment that is secure in order to protect the organization and clients from breaches (McGovern, 52). The campaign will target creation of awareness and will incorporate the use of topical posters, online general awareness courses, newsletter, videos, email campaigns and forums. The goal of the campaign is to ensure reinforcement of security best practices. The campaign will target all the departments in the organization. The topics to be covered during the training entails email safety, mobile security, physical security, passwords and access control, importance of individual responsibility, definition of key cyber security terms, phishing, social engineering, data protection and destruction, threats and virus protection, internet safety, federal information and security management act together with demonstration of practical examples of vulnerability and security threats. The campaign and training will target one department at a time with an intention of ensuring all the departments are covered. At the end of the training the employees should be able to avoid breaches, pass audit requirement for compliance, create a secure environment for the organization, practice and learn secure habits and gain awareness of vulnerabilities and information security threats. The employees will be observed after the training period to assess the impact of the program (McGovern,