Historical Development of Graphic Design and Animation Theories Essay

Historical Development of Graphic Design and Animation Theories - Essay Example From the research it is clear that early specimen of graphics manifested in the form of symbols, signs and writings on any surface. A myriad of graphic designs were developed through time applying different techniques to capture the attention of the admiring audience. It was not until the 1920s when a group of German psychologists namely: Max Wertheimer, Wolfgang Kohler and Kurt Koffka, devised a systematic approach in graphical design perception. They based their interpretation of graphical design on the notion of completion, where audiences sub-consciously view separately arranged entities as a single item. According to the paper finding colors were incorporated into graphics. This was so because colors were able to convey emotions and moods unlike previous monotonous colors (black and white). From the latter events, it can be presumed that colors breathed life into graphics. Most people’s initial knowledge on color, seem to suggest that all colors are simple mixture of three primary colors; green, red and blue. The color theory vehemently disputes this notion. It is crucial to understand the basics of color formation so as to accurately utilize those (colors) in graphic design to imply various moods. The contentious issue of color formation dates back to the 15th century where a number of disciplines were used in explaining the concept, namely; chemistry, mathematics and physics. Not all yielded to viable conclusion.

Woman in Yoruba Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Woman in Yoruba - Research Paper Example This art included the use of wood, clay, stone, ivory, bronze, copper, and brass as material for these visual art works. Provenance in African arts is often hard to prove. This is the same case in Yoruba art where the artist is not clearly identified as the author of that art work. Concepts of authenticity in African art is different by virtue of the African concept of ownership; the owner of that art work is the person who ordered or commissioned an art work and not the artist himself. This is further compounded by the fairly recent commodification of African art (Stokes, 1999: 10). Many art objects were sold and re-sold to different private individuals and museums as result. It is not surprising that quite often, real authorship is lost and very hard to trace indeed. Hints in public knowledge of the real author of an art work may impinge on the owner in terms of prestige, power, and success in the public persona arena (ibid.). This is why most of Yoruba art hardly reflects on the real authorship but rather emphasizes the ownership of it. One aspect of Yoruba art that is very prominent is the use of art works in religious worship. A number of Yoruba art works reflect the ritualistic traditions among the people and an art work shown as an example here is good symbolism of the central role of religion (see Fig. 1). Women in Yoruba society occupy an important role. Although most scholarly literature points to a male-dominated society, this is not the case as validated by their works of art. The women in Yoruba have acquired divine authority as shown in the arts (Abiodun, 1989:2). It is a significant deviation from the common misconceptions of male dominance. The women as depicted in Yoruba art are almost always calm, dignified, and possessed of divine powers. In Yoruba art, women are accorded as powerful but also as subordinates (Olajubu, 2003:105). The essence of most Yoruba art is to

Diversity in Universities Essay Example for Free

Diversity in Universities Essay The process of getting education involves going through a number of stages. They are the pre-school, primary school, high school and finally the tertiary institutions and the university. Admission into the universities or colleges involves the process in which students who have completed high school join tertiary education at universities and colleges. An educational system differs from one country to another. Some countries have self governing bodies which centralize the administration of standardized exams. Diversity refers to the process of recognizing and appreciating the individuals’ characteristics that make them unique so as to promote the celebration of the individual and collective achievement of those persons. Universities consists of individuals who contribute significantly to the growth of culture of the community through expressing their views on how to improve on the performance of an organization Diversity in universities. As teachers teach in universities, they always need to update their knowledge in their fields of specialization because of changing trends. Diverse systems in universities enable students to know in advance the type and quality of teaching and qualification they will receive. Benefits of diversity When an organization values diversity, it means that it values the local community as well as themselves. Different values are appreciated by the diverse organization . This kind of organization recognizes the fact that people with different backgrounds skills, attitude and experience brings about fresh ideas and perceptions. Diverse organizations encourage and harness various differences that make their services relevant and approachable. They also get a wide range of views exercised so that it can listen to them and meet the changing needs of its user, staff, volunteers and partners. Intellectual Diversity A review is done about the student’s perception of students towards teachers who attempt to discuss politics in course other than political science in classrooms. Academic freedom should be allowed in college campuses for its easier to correct a situation in the classroom. On other hand arguments should be made to be one sided. For education, it is said to be implemented when students are provided with a variety of perspectives and encouraged to think for them. There are some suggestions given to ensure intellectual diversity at the same time protecting academic freedom, for instance establishing new academic programs political bias in student –funded groups. In conclusion, diversity helps us to see situations from different points of view and therefore assists one to accommodate changes when they arise. It is therefore necessary to learn about diversity so as to appreciate the different research agendas and priorities that may arise that may bring change to a community and thus lead to proper decision making processes within their organizations. Reference: Blosser, S. (2005) Universities Flunk In Intellectual Diversity http://72. 14. 205. 104/search? q=cache:N1K4WYFP6EgJ:www. campusreportonline. net/main/articles. php%3Fid%3D706+intellectual+diversity+in+universitieshl=enct=clnkcd=2gl=keclient=firefox-a Website accessed on September 6, 2008

Quantitative models for project planning

Quantitative models for project planning Introduction Project management consists of diverse processes linked to each other. In IT project management, strategic vision and planning are important elements of any project which determine the project outcomes. Historically, project success has been defined as bringing a project to conclusion on time, within budget and according to specifications. For successful performance, IT organizations need effective project management system which consists of control activities and effective resource allocation in order to achieve overall objectives of the company/organization. Project Management Defined Project management aims to achieve specified performance within an agreed time scale and budget. Every aspect of the project is defined, e.g. quality, reliability etc. In general, project management is defined as the process of managing, allocating, and timing resources to achieve a given goal in an efficient and expedient manner (Badiru,1993, p.1). The goals of the project give a sense of direction for the activities of an organization. They give broad guiding principles towards which detailed and specific plans are directed. The important point of the project management is that the elements are expected to work synergistically together to generate a joined output that is greater than the sum of the individual outputs of the components (Badiru, 1993, p.1). Different authors identify different elements of the project management such as planning, scheduling and control or resource scheduling, budgeting and cost control, teamwork and effective leadership, conflict management and knowledge management. The book A Guide to the Project Management underlines that the main characteristics of projects are: performed by people, constrained by limited resources and planned, executed and controlled (Burkun, 2005. p. 4). All of them underline importance of successful planning and control operations to achieve specific goals of the project. Effective projects are based on unlimited model of project management. It describes the impact of resource scheduling, budgeting, teamwork, conflict management and knowledge management on the outcomes of the project. Projects are carried out in organizations, which are collectives of individuals and sometimes in a group, sometimes at cross-purposes. Resource Scheduling In IT project management, resource scheduling in the initial planning stage varies depending on the type of project. When planning a simple project its team may simply consider the type of resources necessary for each activity, equipment or skill groups. However, if planning a project with fewer resources, the project team may consider not just the skill types necessary but particular individuals, especially if the project has a short duration. The effective resource planning is essential, because the initial stage determine the development and outcomes of a project in general. On some projects, collocation may not be an option; where it is not viable, an alternative may be scheduling frequent face-to- face meetings to encourage interaction (A Guide to the Project Management, 2000). The people who created the PERT scheduling technique realized that any estimate of the duration of a proposed task is subject to uncertainty (Frame, 2002, p. 74). Unproductive long-range planning for purchasing does not allow the project to achieve its goals. It can lead to waste of time and poor outcomes. It is important that the project be finished on time and close to budget. By adding resources it can easily be seen whether any project resources are expected to be working on a huge number of activities, to such an extent that they will not be able to complete all the work by the scheduled completion date. Ineffective resource scheduling can lead to low profits and useless unprofitable outcomes (A Guide to the Project Management, 2000). Budgeting and Cost Control On the majority of IT projects where there is very limited equipment being used, the main cost will be that associated with the people in the internal project team, appointed contractors and subcontractors. It is important to note that for different organizations, cost of the staff plays a different role. For instance, organizations running in-house projects do not estimate the cost of their internal staff working on the project, but do esti ­mate the cost of contractors and suppliers. Knack finds that The more hours staff members spend on a project, the more expensive it becomes (Frame, 2002, p. 20). This is often the case not only for small organiza ­tions, but also many multinational companies which do not have systems in place to allow them to accurately track and record the time people spend on individual projects. For these organizations, effective cost management is crucial for the project outcomes and its profitability. Cost budgeting involves allocating the overall cost estimates to individual activities or work packages to establish a cost baseline (A Guide to the Project Management, 2000, p. 89). Human Resource Management Management of conflicts is an essential part of project Management. It has assumed a vital strategic role in recent years as organizational attempt to compete through people. Today, projects can create a competitive advantage when they possess or develop human resources that are psychologically strong and organized. To avoid low motivation and confidence of employees, conflict is now treated seriously as an important aspect in the proper understanding of behavior. Modern management prac ­tice emphasizes the need for free expression and encourages open com ­munications, especially between superiors and subordinates, and methods of continuing consultation and negotiation (Frame, 2002, p. 98). Conflict resolution takes time and efforts of employees, reducing success of the project in general. Also, conflicts have a negative influence on productivity because of low motivation or frustration of the staff. Knowledge Management Without effective knowledge management the IT project will fail. Proper flow of knowledge and training of employees ensures success and fixed outcomes of the project. Knowledge management is viewed as a means of communication and as a means of storing knowledge. Knowledge manage ­ment is more about people than technology. Organizational networks can be particularly important in ensuring that knowledge is shared. Risk Management A major source of risk on IT projects is tied to difficulties in managing needs and requirements. If requirements have not been identified correctly and if the corresponding requirements do not capture real needs properly, then a project is doom to failure because it will produce deliverables that do not correspond to customers needs and wants. Proper management of needs and requirements is a necessary condition for project success. Problems begin with attempts to identify needs. One common difficulty is determining who the customers are. Managers who aspire to enable their organizations to be good at managing risk must recognize the road to effective risk management. In projects, there are techniques that may help to reduce uncertainty of the future and hence are valuable. In the area of investment decisions, probability forecasts are very important, e.g. variable estimates of future sales costs and prices will affect the estimated rates of return on capital invested in projects. Risk management is an important area of project management because it helps the project manager to locate and plan resources taking into account probability analysis and possible risks. Ineffective risk analysis leads to failure of the project and threatens its outcomes. To understand why these may be threatening to some people, consider what risk management processes do: they force people in organizations to approach their efforts in a deliberative fashion and to be aware of the dangers that lurk in the shadows (Badiru, 1993). In order to survive in highly competitive world, IT organizations have to improve their flexibility and be ready to meet change from external environment. He says that changes in organization are often facilitated by such factors as uncertain economic conditions, globalization and fierce competition, the level of government intervention, political interests, scarcity of natural resources, and rapid developments in technology. As well as increasing demand for high-quality goods, services and customers satisfaction, flexibility in organizational structure determines the changing nature of workforce and conflict within the organization. Therefore, in todays fast changing business environment, change turns to be an unavoidable part of social and organizational life (Blanchard and Johnson, 2002). Hence, organizational change can appear in different shapes, sizes and forms; it can be reflected in various change programs such as total quality management, business process re-engineering, per formance management, lean production are all being enforced in organizations all over the world. Moreover, each organization has to find its own approach on how to implement change, reduce conflict and achieve higher productivity. It is important to have a detailed management plan, create an appropriate organizational environment to deliver change, follow carefully the steps of change models and focus on human resources (Badiru, 1993). Quality Management Quality management can be described as a collection of principles, techniques, processes and best practices. These are put into practice during the time of companys existence. In general, the whole process is based on a number of effective technologies. Traditionally, the technologies are based on the use total quality management elements (Badiru, 1993). The use of these elements is projected to improve the quality management method model that has been developed by the company. The main objective of the given model is to describe the primary quality management methods that are currently practiced by the company. The combination of these methods is used with the aim to assess an organizations present strengths and weaknesses. Traditionally, the analysis is done with the regard to the use of quality management methods. Recent times have brought many approaches to management. Just-in-time (JIT) management principles have become the main principles that are used in modern managerial prac tices. The main specifics of JIT program is that it is directed towards ensuring that the right quantities of the people. Many people perceive this program as a material-control system (Frame, 2002). In IT projects, a great emphasis is put on training people in tools and techniques knowledge. So, knowledge of safety rules for workers would eliminate accidents at work, thus making process more effective and productive. With the help of quality control process chart, a safety officer is able to analyze his actions directed onto training people in safety issues. The cause of any issue can be steaming either from people, or process, or equipment. If equipment is not working properly, the incidents at working station could be also an effect. The scheme is divided into cause and effect parts, where cause can contain such categories as people, methods, machines, materials, environment, measurements, etc. Usually there would be found a relation between causes and effects in the projects Other issues that could be considered as principles of performance, besides profitability, include market share, degree of compliance with rules, rate of innovation and extent of society involvement. In addition to an overall judgment of consumer value, the input process of value creation must also be tracked and changes made as needed. In the issue of value, minor errors could later cause problems and require the type of essential change that a plan of endlessly improving value seeks to avoid. A suitable frame of indicators for the process of leadership is provided by the other issues themselves. The leadership, Integration, Involvement, and Ingraining achieved by the organization are reliable factors of how effectively the organization is pursuing its stated eventual end (Frame, 2002). Conclusion The outcomes of the IT project depend upon all elements of the project and effective implementation of all parts of the plan. In project management, resource scheduling and resource location are the main keys of effective project management based on control of project and its security. All elements are interdependent and cannot be considered in isolation. For instance, better customer relations lead higher morale of staff, lower program costs result in higher profit margins. Individuals have a lot of freedom, but when they join a project their freedom is restricted and their effort must be joined with those of others to achieve organizational goals. For this reason, the project manager should take a special attention to all areas of the project and resources involved to achieve desirable and predetermined outcomes. Effective project management depends upon location of resources and management skills of its leader. IT project management links such categories as people, methods, machin es, materials, environment, and measurements. List of References Badiru, A.B. 1993. Quantitative Models for Project Planning, Scheduling and Control. Quorum Books. Burkun, S. 2005. The Art of Project Management. OReilly Media; 1 ed. Blanchard, K., Johnson, S. 2002. The One Minute Manager. Berkley Trade. A Guide to the Project Management: Body of knowledge PMBOK Guide 2000 edition. Project management Institute. Frame, J.D. 2002. The New Project Management: Tools for an Age of Rapid Change,Complexity, and Other Business Realities. Jossey-Bass.

The Benefits Of A Pacemaker

The Benefits Of A Pacemaker What is a Pacemaker? An artificial pacemaker is an electronic medical device which is used to treat abnormalities in the rhythm of the human heart. These devices are used internally inside the body, are usually small and implanted into the chest. The pacemaker provides electrical impulses that allow the heart to beat at its normal rate, if the heart were not able to do so by itself. Reason for the need of a pacemaker A pacemaker is used to treat arrhythmias. Arrhythmias are problems or abnormalities in the rhythm of the heartbeat. These problems or abnormalities include an irregular heartbeat, the rate of the heartbeat being too slow or the rate of the heartbeat being too fast. Arrhythmias are a severe condition which causes shortness of breath, fatigue and fainting. It can also lead to serious damage of bodily organs or even death if not treated properly. However these problems can easily be solved with the implementation of a pacemaker. A pacemaker can allow a person with these problems to lead a normal and active lifestyle relieving them of fatigue and fainting. How an artificial pacemaker functions The pacemaker is run on batteries and delivers electrical impulses through electrodes, which are connected to the cardiac muscle to regulate the beat of the heart. These electrical impulses regulate the heart beat and maintain the correct rhythm of the heart. The leads which connected between the pacemaker and the heart send electrical signals back and forth and sense when the heart needs some sort of treatment. When it requires treatment, the heart will receive an impulse from the device to correct the problem. Human Pacemaker Within the cardiovascular system there are electrical events which cause the contraction and relaxation of the muscles in the heart. The cells of cardiac muscle can be classified as either non-pacemaker cells or pacemaker cells in terms of electrical activity. It is the pacemaker cells that create the impulses and control the heart rate. The pacemaker cells lie within the sinoatrial (SA) node. This node can be found in the wall of the right atrium. These pacemaker cells cause spontaneous depolarizations which generate action potentials that determine the heart rate under normal physical conditions. Pacemaker cells can also be found at the atrioventricular (AV) node, which lies within the ventricular walls. It is the SA node that generally generates the hearts electrical impulses and is the reason it is usually called the pacemaker, but if the SA node were not to function or if it was blocked on its path, it would be the AV node that would generate the heart beat and become the new pacemaker. The failure of the function of these cells results in irregular and abnormal heartbeats which require correction. The artificial pacemaker can provide this correction with its own electrical impulses. Diseases Related to pacemaker Arrhythmias Arrhythmias or cardiac dysrhythmia is the condition in which the electrical activity in the heart is abnormal. The pacemaker is used to treat this condition if the heart is beating too fast, too slow or if the heart is beating irregularly. The heart normally beats between 60 to 100 beats per minute, however different types of arrhythmias can cause the heart to beat below or above this rate. Bradyarrhythmias causes the heart to beat below 60 beats per minute, tachyarrhythmias causes the heart to beat above 100 beats per minute. Causes of Arrhythmias There are many causes of arrhythmias occurring, which include: Injury caused by a heart attack. Injury during healing after heart surgery. Coronary artery disease. A change in the cardiac muscle in the heart. An imbalance of sodium or potassium in the blood which causes electrolyte imbalances. Symptoms of Arrhythmias Many symptoms can arise because of arrhythmias. Chest pains, shortness of breath, dizziness, fainting, fatigue, and palpitations of the heart are all common problems associated with arrhythmias, but if left untreated the problems may become much more severe and may even lead to death. However an arrhythmia may also be silent and a patient may be unaware of this condition as none of the symptoms listed may have occurred. A doctor can detect an arrhythmia with a regular physical examination using an electrocardiogram which measures the pulse of the heart. Any complications in the rhythm of the heart will become apparent and will indicate if a pacemaker is required. Types of Arrhythmias As mentioned already arrhythmias can be described as either bradyarrhythmias (heart rate too slow) or tachyarrhythmias (heart rate too fast). Bradyarrhythmias results in a heart rate lower than 60 beats per minute, the different types include sinus node dysfunction and heart blocks. Sinus node dysfunction results in slow rhythm as the heart beats because of an abnormal sinus node (SA). Heart block results in delaying or blocking the electrical impulses which travel from the sinus node to the ventricles. A pacemaker can be used to treat both of the these conditions Tachyarrhythmias results in a heart rate higher than 100 beats per minute, the different types of this condition include atrial premature beats, atrial flutter, paroxysmal tachycardias, ventricular premature beats, ventricular tachycardia, and ventricular fibrillation. Atrial premature beats are earlier than expected extra beats which come from the atria. These do not require treatment. Atrial flutter is rapid appearing atrial activity. This can cause rates of 250 300 bpm and is most common after heart surgery. Atrial fibrillation is a common irregular heart rhythm. It causes the atria to contract abnormally. Paroxysmal tachycardis results in a rapid heart rate between 140 and 250 bpm originating from above the ventricles. Ventricular premature beats are unexpected beats from the ventricles. Ventricular tachycardia is a series of three or more ventricular premature beats in a row. Ventricular fribrillation is the most life threatening type of arrhythmia which results in disorded erratic impulses of the ventricles because the ventricles are unable to contract. Invention of the Pacemaker Who invented the first pacemaker? The first artificial pacemaker to be used in aiding the rhythm of the heart was invented by John Hopps. John Alexander Hopps was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada in 1919. He attended the University of Manitoba and in 1941 achieved a B.Sc.Eng degree in electrical engineering. In 1942 Hopps became a member of the National Research Council of Canada. Hopps did not produce the first pacemaker with all his own work but had help from both Dr. Wilfred Bigelow, a Canadian heart surgeon and Dr. John Callaghan, a cardiac surgeon also from Canada. In 1949 the first work began with this trio in inventing the first external artificial pacemaker. The research and development for their project was undertaken at the Banting Institute in the University of Toronto with the finishing touches completed in 1951. With both Dr. Bigelow and Dr. Callaghans vast knowledge of the human heart, and Hopps degree in electrical engineering the first successful pacemaker was invented which lead the way to improve treatment of arrhythmias. Artificial Pacemaker How does it work? The modern implantable artificial cardiac pacemaker consists of two parts, the pacemaker device which generates the impulses and the insulated leads which are connected to the heart via electrodes. The pacemaker generator device (pulse generator) is run by the use of batteries; these batteries must store enough energy to provide electrical impulses to maintain the rhythm of the heart, they are recharged when required and send electrical signals back and forth to the heart through the leads. This device is relatively small and is implanted into the chest. The pacemaker leads which are insulated are also implanted into the body. These leads are very thin and are connected to both the heart wall and the pacemaker generator device. The electrical signals which are produced by the pulse generator send small amounts of electrical energy through the leads which prompt the device to send impulses to the heart if the rhythm of the heartbeat is incorrect. Method of Pacing The methods of pacing the rhythm of the heart include percussive pacing, transcutaneous pacing, epicardial pacing, and transvenous pacing. However these methods of pacing are only used temporarily in conjunction with an external pacemaker or in an emergency. The method used in the implantable pacemaker is permanent pacing. Permanent pacing involves placing one or more pacing leads (electrodes) in the chamber/chambers of the heart. The electrode lead is inserted and passed through a vein until it reaches the heart valve, the lead continues to pass through the valve and is placed inside the chamber of the heart. Once the surgeon is pleased with the position of the electrode in heart chamber the opposite end of the lead is connected to pacemaker generator device. The generator device is also implanted into the chest of the body. Different types of Pacemakers There are now many different types of pacemakers which assist in treating other heart conditions as well such as combining pacemakers and defibrillators in one device. Some devices only use one electrode while others make use of many electrodes to regulate different positions of the heart. The three basic types of implantable pacemakers which use permanent pacing include: Single-chamber pacemakers, this type of pacemaker only uses one pacing lead. The pacing lead is placed in only one chamber, either the atrium or the ventricle. Dual-chamber pacemakers, this type of pacemaker uses two pacing leads. The pacing leads are placed in two chambers of the heart, with one pacing the ventricle and the other pacing the atrium. Rate-responsive pacemakers, this type of pacemaker includes a sensor that automatically adjusts due to a change in the activity of the human body. Materials Used The materials used for producing the pacemaker generator and electrodes are inert, nontoxic, biocompatible and all function within the body. The casing of the pacemaker generator is made of stainless steel, titanium or a titanium alloy. The battery requires storing a large amount of energy but cannot be too big because of the small size of the device, for this a lithium battery is used. The electrodes are made from platinum or platinum-iridium alloy but insulated with polyurethane. Sealing of the casing or any other parts is done using silicon rubber or polypropylene. Methods of production Pacemaker devices are produced by biomedical engineering companies such as Boston Scientific. There are three main components which must be produced to make a pacemaker. The main battery used for a pacemaker device is a lithium/iodine cell. The iodine and a polymer are mixed and heated together first. The liquid iodine/polymer solidifies to form the cathode with the lithium forming the anode. Moisture is prevented from entering the battery by hermetically sealing it. The wires in the leads are produced using a method of extrusion. The wires are bundled together and insulated with polyurethane. One end is shaped to fit the pacemaker and the other to be placed in the heart. The motherboard used in the pacemaker includes semiconductors, resistors and capacitors which are combined together on a single circuit using hybridization. Once these components are produced they can all be put together in the casing of titanium or stainless steel, and sealed using the polypropylene or silicon rubber. Improvements and the future There have been many improvements in the technology of pacemakers. They have been reduced in size for the comfort of patients, the lithium batteries used have vastly improved the multiyear life spans of the device, better leads and wires along with improved electronics have reduced power consumption, and now the device can treat various types of arrhythmias. Increasing numbers of patients requiring pacemakers will mean more will have to be produced. Further research will be carried out to improve the existing devices. Future improvements may include longer lasting batteries with the use of radioactive isotopes, smaller devices, and an application of cardiac pace making technology to the brain.

Ringler Associates Essay -- Business, Customer Service

Ringler Associates is the world’s oldest and largest settlement annuity firm. Created by locally based experts providing personal service, the company has offices in major litigation centers in the U.S., and in London. From its founding, Ringler Associates took the partnership approach to building a team of professionals. Therefore, every Ringler Consultant is an independent owner and thus highly motivated to exceed customer expectations. This tradition of independence and entrepreneurship has inspired numerous innovations at Ringler, including the incorporation of various types of trust concepts in the structured settlement proposal. Ringler consultants also pioneered the use of sophisticated damage analysis and life care plans in structured settlements, which better define both the needs and costs for the injured person’s future care. From its founding, Ringler Associates took the partnership approach to building a team of professionals. Therefore, every Ringler cons ultant is an independent owner and thus highly motivated to exceed customer expectations. Structured settlements are a Life Insurance product. Structures pay out to claimants as do annuities, in a payment stream. The difference is that these annuities are only available to parties that have been injured in a personal injury accident or a workers’ compensation accident. The key component of a structured settlement is that all of the interest that is earned is NOT taxable; this is different than most investments which are tax differed. Ringler is the 800-pound gorilla in the structured settlement industry. Within Ringler, there are 60 offices in the major metropolitan cities with 130 brokers across the country. There are an estimated 400 brokers total in the indu... ...ofitability to drop to kick the board into gear. Ringler needs to be proactive and not reactive. Innovation moves to fast to be reactionary. I have setup a meeting with the board, details of which I shall not bore you with, but it was an incredible arduous process. I am going to make very near the same presentation that I gave in class. Of course, I will leave out the part about the â€Å"borg†. I will present to the board that Ringler needs an innovation team. One that is made up of the people of Ringler for the people of Ringler. If I present the team in a way that will not threaten the board, I believe I can get it passed. As you said, to change the culture of a company is a very hard thing to do. I feel with the skills and ideas that I have learned in this class, I will try to be proactive and effect change on inertia before Ringler enters the death rattle. Ringler Associates Essay -- Business, Customer Service Ringler Associates is the world’s oldest and largest settlement annuity firm. Created by locally based experts providing personal service, the company has offices in major litigation centers in the U.S., and in London. From its founding, Ringler Associates took the partnership approach to building a team of professionals. Therefore, every Ringler Consultant is an independent owner and thus highly motivated to exceed customer expectations. This tradition of independence and entrepreneurship has inspired numerous innovations at Ringler, including the incorporation of various types of trust concepts in the structured settlement proposal. Ringler consultants also pioneered the use of sophisticated damage analysis and life care plans in structured settlements, which better define both the needs and costs for the injured person’s future care. From its founding, Ringler Associates took the partnership approach to building a team of professionals. Therefore, every Ringler cons ultant is an independent owner and thus highly motivated to exceed customer expectations. Structured settlements are a Life Insurance product. Structures pay out to claimants as do annuities, in a payment stream. The difference is that these annuities are only available to parties that have been injured in a personal injury accident or a workers’ compensation accident. The key component of a structured settlement is that all of the interest that is earned is NOT taxable; this is different than most investments which are tax differed. Ringler is the 800-pound gorilla in the structured settlement industry. Within Ringler, there are 60 offices in the major metropolitan cities with 130 brokers across the country. There are an estimated 400 brokers total in the indu... ...ofitability to drop to kick the board into gear. Ringler needs to be proactive and not reactive. Innovation moves to fast to be reactionary. I have setup a meeting with the board, details of which I shall not bore you with, but it was an incredible arduous process. I am going to make very near the same presentation that I gave in class. Of course, I will leave out the part about the â€Å"borg†. I will present to the board that Ringler needs an innovation team. One that is made up of the people of Ringler for the people of Ringler. If I present the team in a way that will not threaten the board, I believe I can get it passed. As you said, to change the culture of a company is a very hard thing to do. I feel with the skills and ideas that I have learned in this class, I will try to be proactive and effect change on inertia before Ringler enters the death rattle.

The Battle of Stalingrad and the Battle of Normandy Essay -- essays re

The Battle of Stalingrad and the Battle of Normandy were two vital battles in World War II. Stalingrad was the site of a critical WWII Soviet victory that terminated Germany’s advance to the east. Peaceful Normandy took it’s place in history as the starting point in the triumphant march across Europe. Both these intense events were extremely significant in the outcome of the second world war. After the Germans failed to win the war totally in 1941, they decided to start a fresh effort, and hoped that this would lead to victory. This effort eventually led to the city of Stalingrad in 1942. Different from the the three pronged attack of the previous year, this one had two attack directions. One from Kharkov to Stalingrad, the other from the Crimea to Caucasus. Though, this push was still very large. It included 78 Axis divisions, almost two million men. It's main purpose was to cut Stalin's supply along the Don and Volga rivers. Therefore, cutting him off from oil in the Caucausus' and "Lend-Lease" aid from the west. This battle would last for more than a year, and could be considered one of the most important battles of the war, mainly because of two large, powerful armies meeting each other head on. Originally, Stalingrad hadn't really been an objective. It became one however after Hitler grew to have a personal obsession with it. It being named after Stalin himself, his enemy, made it a conquest he had to take on. The loss at Stalingrad could be partially blamed on Hitler himself. He withdrew into a shell during this period, concentrating on nothing more than the city. In the meantime, allowing for things to crumble around him. Fortunately for Hitler, an equally obsessive leader faced him. Stalin had a similar obsession with Moscow, and it's defense. Though it isn't debatable whether or not Moscow was an important city to be in possession of, Stalin refused to believe where the German attack would be. Even after viewing a captured copy of this plan. So, the attack began and it went on without a problem. Only in July, 1942, did this good luck begin to diminish. They were few and far between at first, but gradually built up unease at German Headquarters. There were debates as to attacks on Vorozneh, or whether a move towards the oil fields was in order. By August, Hitler decided to move ... ...tion which created, in a sense, a military base for the Allied forces managed to bring a total of 1 million troops by the date of July 1. And thus the final drive to liberate Europe was under way. The thoughts of what would of happened if Operation Overlord didn’t occur were almost to dark and fearful to bear think of. The armies of darkness have marched through Europe fearing nothing lying ahead of them and leaving nothing lying behind them. The date of June 6, 1944 will always be remembered as the beginning of the end for the Third Reich. The once peaceful beaches of France were turned into a heroic and glory filled day for the Allied troops. And though many troops died, they also will always remembered as one of the courageous and proud who brought the destruction to the most powerful and evil forces ever to exist on this great earth. The Battle of Stalingrad and the Battle of Normandy were key factors in the outcome of WWII. Both battle with it’s own significant elements. Without the victory of these battles who knows what course history would have taken.