Les Liaisons Dangereuses :: essays research papers

Les Liaisons Dangereuses is a complex and disturbing portrayal of the noble class in pre-revolutionary France. Set in the late eighteenth century during the latter part of the Ancien Regime, Les Liaisons weaves a web of cold, calculated betrayal of the most immoral kind. The story unfolds in the form of earn written between the principal characters, giving it a unique literary texture. By using this style, de Laclos is able to give the reader a shockingly inside look at these people as they divulge their most intimate secrets and bring to fruition their sinister plans.The protagonists, The Marquise de Merteuil and the Vicomte de Valmont, consider it their lifes opposition to sadistically control and dominate those around them through sexual intrigue. These two villains are indeed locked in psychological combat to see who can actually out-do the otherwise in stalking, capturing and destroying the souls of others. Taking absolute pleasure in ripping any virtue from the hearts of t heir prey, Merteuil and Valmont wave their accomplishments in front of each other care spoils of war. The less the chance of surrender, the more relentless is the pursuit. The story begins with the Marquise de Merteuil corresponding with Vicomte de Valmont regarding a luscious new act of revenge, as she describes it, against the Comte de Gercourt. The young Cecile de Volanges has simply come home from the convent and her marriage to Gercourt has been arranged. However, before he can wed the innocent child, Merteuil proposes Valmont educate her, thus spoiling Gercourts fancy for untarnished convent girls. Valmont is benumbed in such an easy seduction and is far more aroused by the thought of lulling The Presidente de Tourvel, the very epitome of virtue, into submission. And so the tale unfolds. Valmont eventually beds the double-dyed(a) Cecile in order to humor Merteuil, however, the conquest of Madam de Tourvel is his passion and he indulges in this pursuit until he reaches the intended conclusion.Although, it would be a mistake to imbibe Valmont as anything but the monster that he is, there seems to be a small measure of actual affection for Tourvel, however short-lived. Once Valmont shares this strange and unhoped-for interest in Madame de Tourvel, The Marquise de Merteuil is enraged, considering it an appalling sign of weakness. In order to save face, Valmont returns to his ruthless ways, thus completing the destruction of Madame de Tourvel, who had ultimately fallen deucedly in love with Valmont.

The History Of Computers :: essays research papers

The History of Computers     A ready reckoner is a machine built to do turn calculations with speed,reliability, and ease, greatly simplifying processes that without them would bea much longer, more drawn out process.     Since their introduction in the 1940s. Computers have become animportant part of the world. Besides the systems be in offices, and homes,microcomputers are now used in everyday locations such as automobiles, aircrafts,telephones, and kitchen appliances.     Computers are used for education as well, as stated by Rourke Guides inhis book, Computers Computers are used in schools for scoring examinationpapers, and grades are sometimes recorded and kept on computers (Guides 7).     "The original idea of a computer came from Blaise Pascal, who inventedthe first digital calculating machine in 1642. It performed only additions ofnumbers entered by dials and was intended to help Pascals f ather, who was a taxcollector" (Buchsbaum 13).     However, in 1671, Gottfried Wilhelm von Leibniz invented a computer thatcould not only add but, multiply. Multiplication was quite a step to be takenby a computer because until then, the only topic a computer could do was add.The computer multiplied by successive adding and shifting (Guides 45).     Perhaps the first actual computer was made by Charles Babbage. Heexplains himself rather well with the following quote     "One evening I was sitting in the rooms of the Analytical Society atCambridge with a put over full of logarithms lying open before me. Another membercoming into the room, and seeing me half asleep called out, Well Babbage, whatare you dreaming about?, to which I replied, I am thinking that all thesetables might be calculated by machinery"(Evans 41).     "The first general purpose computer was invented in 1871 by CharlesB abbage, unspoilt before he died"(Evans 41). It was still a prototype of course,but it was a beginning.     Around this time, there was little or no interest in the teaching ofcomputers. People feared, due to the lack of their knowledge, that computerswould take over everything and run their lives (Buchsbaum 9).     If only these 18th century Americans, who were ignorant to the necessityof computers, would have known the many benefits they were wanting out on, theywould have more readily funded individuals such as Charles Babbage.     As Glossbrenner states in The Complete Handbook of Personal Computers,

The Oak Tree: A Symbol For America :: essays research papers

America, our great sylvan, is strong, powerful, and influential. Americans exemplify positive values, selflessness, hospitality, and the American way of life. The mighty oak tree that stands taller, bigger, and older than all others best represents this rarified country. Each part of the tree illustrates a facet of our nation. Shapely emerald leaves covering the tree symbolize the values many Americans hold concerning themselves, others, and their nation. Leaves help the tree nurture and flourish just as our value of caring for our neighbors help us to unite and become more successful as a whole. The beautiful whole tone and distinct shape of these leaves make the tree more attractive and unique. Our values often differ from values of other countries due to cultural contrasts such as with religious, racial, and education issues. We give more than more freedom than many other countries do to those of different races and religions. Also, he hold education in a much higher regard than other countries. It is these differences which sometimes make our country seem more appealing to those of foreign lands. Without leaves in the spring, the mighty oak would have no means of nourishment and would die. Our common American values bind us together as one unit just as all the leaves cook together to benefit the oak. Without them we would be millions of separate bodies aimlessly wondering about a common ground, and our country would fall to pieces. Thus, there would be no country as there would be no tree. The lonely oaks long, gnarled limbs seem to reach out as far as they can just to jot another tree. One limb reaches far to the east until it finds a maple. Our brave troops fought in the east to fend off the Czechoslovakians and Serbians from nearly defenseless Bosnia. some other limb bends down and softly playes the fresh buds of a young sapling. Many Americans give years of their lives in South Africa to the Peace Corps to touch the lives and hearts of many vil lagers. Yet another limb seems to branch out in all directions with its twigs reaching both up and down and side to side. both year, many Americans donate money to the Christian Childrens Fund where it is then used to heal, feed, and educate poverty-stricken children all over the world. Just as our branches stretch out, so do our American arms to help those less fortunate.

Victims of Domestic Abuse :: Legal Issues, Politics, Social Issues

Currently, preventive orders are only provided during regular court hours to victims of domestic abuse. However, the occurrence of violence has no time frame it does not only lay down place or transpire on a nine to five time clock. Therefore, I propose thatlegislation should be pushed forward which allows District commissioners the endorsement to put temporaryrestraining orders on people accused of domesticviolence. It is important to note that victims may not receivefull protection until the existing turned impressions,held by some judicial and public safety officials,about the proper issuance and enforcement ofprotective orders are rejected. It is often consideredthat a protective order, being a civil order, shouldnot be handled or enforced by police. This type ofpower should not be distri entirelyed, uncontrollably, topolice officers. Since a court issues a protectiveorder, some mistakenly believe that the police shouldnot be able to arrest a person who violates theprotecti ve order because the person is in scorn ofcourt not disobeying the law.The proposed legislation would destroy these misconceptions by changing the state constitution to allow District commissioners to not only grantprotective orders but also at night and on the weekends to safeguard victims of domestic abuse.Domestic violence is defined as threatened or actual abuse from person in the victims immediate family or in his/her home or with whom she/he has a close relationship.Temporary restraining orders are issued by a court to restrict the conduct of a person while providing avictim with protection from the activities of an abusive person.

The Future of Education Essay -- Teaching Teachers Essays

The Future of Education As teachers our primary concern should be the students and what type of learning environment forget be stovepipe suited to meet their needs. There are many different opinions as top what the most effective or appropriate curriculum is for the students. I do not believe in that respect is any one philosophy that can provide the ideal curriculum for each and every student. Just as there are numerous methods of teaching, there are also numerous ways to learn. It is essential that we keep this in mind as we help the students achieve their goals and cite their talents. Above all we must encourage the students to try new things and do what we can to prevent limiting them in any way. I do not feel that I completely fall under any of the major teaching philosophies, but I do mostly agree with the progressivists. The school strategy needs to attempt to keep their curriculum as current as possible with the ever changing technological advances. I also believe that the students will be able to retain what they learn if they are given hands on projects that pertain to the subject material. It is not my intent to undermine traditional sacred scripture learning, which is still an essential part of the schooling process, but basic book learning cannot be the total emphasis of the school program. The school system should not eliminate some of the some of the classes such as Agricultural Science, Music, Art, or the Shop classes. Elimination of these types of classes ...

The Future of Education Essay -- Teaching Teachers Essays

The Future of Education As t each(prenominal)ers our primary concern should be the students and what type of knowledge environment will be best suited to meet their needs. There are many different opinions as top what the most effective or appropriate curriculum is for the students. I do non believe there is any one philosophy that can provide the ideal curriculum for each and every student. Just as there are numerous methods of teaching, there are also numerous ways to learn. It is essential that we keep this in intelligence as we help the students achieve their goals and discover their talents. Above all we must encourage the students to try new things and do what we can to prevent limiting them in any way. I do not feel that I completely fall under any of the major teaching philosophies, but I do mostly agree with the progressivists. The school system needs to attempt to keep their curriculum as current as possible with the ever changing proficient advanc es. I also believe that the students will be able to retain what they learn if they are given hands on projects that pertain to the subject material. It is not my intent to undermine traditional book learning, which is still an essential part of the schooling process, but basic book learning cannot be the total dialect of the school program. The school system should not eliminate some of the some of the classes such as Agricultural Science, Music, Art, or the Shop classes. Elimination of these types of classes ...

The Fortune at the Bottom of Pyramid

Lessons from the Field gross gross gross revenue at the tin can of the Pyramid By Heidi Krauel and Joel Montgomery, 2009 Acumen investment firm Fellows April 2010 Summary Enterprises religious service bottom of the pyramid ( have it off) markets have tremendous opportunity to create commercial and social impact, save are of ten dollar bill illequipped to do so. A particular irresolution that needs to be studied is how can we sell to a greater extent effectively to BoP consumers? In this piece, Acumen memory board Fellows Heidi Krauel and Joel Montgomery draw on their line experiences and research to explain how we can gird more effective gross sales organizations to serve the BoP.Contents Summary Introduction The Survey + Profile of Companies + Overview of Findings + Performance Rating methodology gradation One Recruit Ambassadors Step Two Realize Potential Step Three Reinforce Training + Data Collection + Compensation coda References Ab come out of the closet the A uthors 1 1 2 2 2 3 4 5 6 7 7 8 8 9 Introduction The business arena has heard about The Fortune at the Bottom of the Pyramid for some measure.In his seminal work, CK Prahalad asserts that multinational corporations (MNCs) can stimulate mercantilism at the bottom of the economic pyramid to improve the merrys of the four billion people in the world living in poverty and turn a healthy profit along the way. i This assertion is supported by various case studies, suggesting that the bottom of the pyramid (BoP) is a source of untapped gain for corporations that signal local people as both producers and consumers and inspire innovation for modern technologies and commercial activities. i A 2008 empirical study by Rodrigo Guesalaga and Pablo marshal compares the buying power index (BPI) of the BoP market relative to the BPI of middle and mellow-income market segments and finds that relative to the total market, the BoP sector accounts, on average, for more than 50 percent of the purc hasing power in create countries. iii Large groups of poor consumers have the power to reject or accept what an MNC wants to sell, thereby forcing MNCs to overcome BoP market constraints and revise antiquated business models. v Since the BoP term was first coined, several MNCs and start-ups have introduced new products and services to the worlds poorest customers with mixed success. One leader in this movement is Acumen Fund, which invests in start-up social enterprises that employ market-based solutions to providing the poor with basic goods and serviceswater, healthcare, energy, agriculture, and housing. An underlying formula of Acumens work is that when poor consumers are tryn the dignity of choice, they are transformed from passive recipients of aid into customers with powerful voices that the business community cannot make to ignore.Addressing this voice in a sustainable, scalable way is no easy matter, especi entirelyy for resource-constrained young businesses. Krauel & M ontgomery, April 2010 Copyright 2010 Acumen Fund 1 Lessons from the Field Sales at the Bottom of the Pyramid The tools that traditional companies in more affluent markets utilize to understand and reach customersstudies, mailing lists, online campaigns, chambers of commerce, YellowPages, mass media channels put one acrosst exist or cant easily be applied in developing countries.BoP-facing companies grapple with language and cultural barriers, infrastructure challenges, and chapiter constraints, careless(predicate) of whether they are an established multi-national corporation or a start-up trying to build a brand from scratch. While literature detailing the benefits of social enterprises is widespread, poor attention is paid to the personnel management and organization building of small- and mediumsized enterprises trying to operate in these markets.After a ten-month field placement with two sales-focused Acumen Fund investees in India and Pakistan, Heidi Krauel and Joel Montg omery (2009 Acumen Fellows) were interested in exploring and uncovering common practices among small-and medium-sized enterprises that are successfully building sales organizations to serve the BoP. This executive summary presents the conclusions from a hatful that Krauel and Montgomery conducted with organizations that target the poor through a variety of sales models.Forty-two assorted organizations in Latin America, Africa, and Asia participated in the survey and contributed to the BoP Salesforce Lifecycle a framework which identifies specific steps that social enterprises can take to accelerate their growth and development. Krauel and Montgomery suggest that this three-pronged model Recruit, Realize, and Reinforce may sustain BoP companies break through the barriers they await in building high- do sales organizations to serve the poor. BOP salesFORCE LIFECYCLE A three-pronged framework that identifies steps social enterprises can take to build an effective sales force re animate ambassadors with strong kooky skills by leveraging low-cost guild assets REALIzE potential using ongoing, experience-based education built upon on-the- background acceptedities REInFORCE by linking gifted selective information gain vigorion to performance-based pay and perks The Survey Profile of Companies An online survey was conducted in July 2009 with the CEOs or Heads of Sales at small- and medium-sized enterprises serving low-income customers in developing countries. The absolute majority of respondents (31 of 42) have fewer than 100 employees and 69% percent have less than $1 million in annual revenues.The age distribution of survey responders is more or less even with 21% of companies in their first year of operations, 31% with two to five years operating history, 29% with six to ten years, and 19% with ten or more years. The survey set is dominated by for-profit companies (71%) and one-third of all respondents (36%) have received venture capital investment. C onsumer Goods is the most common exertion focus (33% of companies), followed by Business Services (24%), Consumer Services (17%), Agricultural or Industrial Products (12%), and Other products or services (14%).The majority of companies target primarily low-income and/ or rural consumers 81% of companies target low-income, 64%, rural. Fewer companies target the urban (36%) or middleincome (26%) consumer. Overview of Findings Challenges Survey responders constitution common challenges in finding salespeople with the requisite skills and thence extracting bloom performance in terms of meeting sales targets, effective Krauel & Montgomery, April 2010 Copyright 2010 Acumen Fund 2 Lessons from the Field Sales at the Bottom of the PyramidSalesforces Performance Ratings Based on End Customer type 100% % of companies surveyed 80% 60% 40% 20% 0% 36% 44% 33% Primarily paltry-Income Primarily Rural Primarily Urban 26% gt10% Primarily Mid-Income 81% 64% % of Companies (n=42) % highschool P erfomers 44% Performance Rating methodology Companies were rated based on self-reported selective information on performance against community sales targets. Companies reporting meeting or beating at least 75% of their sales targets are senior high school Performers, while companies whose sales teams meet or beat 50%-74% of targets are Medium Performers.Low Performers tend to miss more than 50% of their sales targets. Having venture capital (VC) investors does not necessarily correlate with high performance, with 47% of VC-backed companies rated as High Performers compared to 48% of companies without VC backing. Similarly, non-profit or for-profit status has little impact on performance ratings, with 58% of all non-profits and 43% of all forprofit companies being High Performers. Nearly half(prenominal) of companies that target low-income customers are High Performers. This is a promising finding for entrepreneurs aspiring to build successful companies aimed at eradicating the po verty penalty. fraternity Performance Based on Years in Operation Companies of all ages are High performers, but an inflection question emerges at five or more years of operating history. 20 Years in Operation gt15 (n=3) 10 to 15 (n=5) 6 to 10 (n=12) 12 10 2 to 5 (n=13) 0 to 2 (n=9) High Medium Low time management, and thoughtful prioritization of markets and customers. Advantages combat-ready companies too report unique advantages that can be leveraged to break through these barriers.Social missions act as powerful magnets to new salespeople and relatively high retention grade make investing in sales force development a viable option. Promising practices around soft-skills-based sales force recruitment and assessment, experiential and ongoing sales force cookery programs, and low-tech but pixilated data collection linked to appropriate pay schemes emerged and are discussed in the sections below. Some of these practices also corresponded with existing best practices and re search in the field of Sales Force Development in small and medium enterprises (SMEs).Interestingly, companies primarily focused on notoriously challenging rural and low-income markets do not seem to be paying a penalty when it comes to performance. Forty-four percent of companies focused on rural markets are High Performers, compared to 33% of companies focused on urban markets. Similarly, nearly half (15 of 34) of companies that target low-income customers are High Performers compared to less than 10% of companies that include middle-income consumers in their target market.This is a promising finding for entrepreneurs aspiring to build successful companies aimed at eradicating the poverty penalty. An inflection point in company size and be emerges from the survey responses, after which performance against targets significantly improves. Of the companies rated as High Performers, 80% have more than 20 employees and 65% have more than $250,000 in annual revenue. This report hopes to highlight tangible steps that companies can take to not only improve performance in the near term, but also accelerate continue towards this inflection point and down the path towards size and scale.Krauel Montgomery, April 2010 Copyright 2010 Acumen Fund 3 Lessons from the Field Sales at the Bottom of the Pyramid Step One Recruit Ambassadors Barrier Hiring skilled sales staff Breakthrough Recruit ambassadors with strong soft skills by leveraging low cost assets pourboire Hiring Barriers by Percent of Companies (n=42) *Note respondents could choose more than one category Lack of necessary skills Lack of necessary work experience Poor cultural fit Ability to go game competitive take Unknown company brand 19% 24% 36% 43% 40%Nearly all companies (93%) report Other 10% that hiring salespeople is somewhat challenging (45%), if not extremely Company location 10% challenging (48%). Lack of core skills, Ability to offer competitive benefits 10% direct experience, and cultu ral fit (with formalized and/or fast-paced startup environments) are consistently reported as the top hiring barriers, regardless of company size Candidates with significant, direct experience are aphonic to find v or stage. Yet, only 10% of companies note retention as a serious in large numbers survey findings suggest that BoP managers challenge.This may be driven by the heavy use of personal should also target individuals that possess strong soft skills relationships in recruiting, but dedication to the social mission assets (local relationships, personal confidence, verbal is also reported as a top reason for why salespeople are joining communication, and community influence), and then test these these companies. Still, companies report that obtaining good skills in action as part of the reference process. performance from these committed sales teams is problematic.The survey suggests ways that BoP managers can more High Performers consistently report integrating active effecti vely contract in uncertain environments and then use high demonstrations into their hiring processes. Sales force retention rates and mission alignment as rationale for investing interviewees are potential ambassadors for the company who in the development of incoming sales staff. vi when given basic product information should be able to shine REASOnS SALES PEOPLE JOIn (ASSEtS), SuCCESSFuL RECRuItIng StRAtEgIES (tOOLS) (n=42) StARt-uP gt20 employees n=14) SMALL EntERPRISE (20100 employees n=17) MEDLARgE EntERPRISE (101500+ employees n=11) Assets + Social accusation (n=X, 93%) + Start-up Energy (n=X, 36%) + Social Mission (n=X, 67%) + Competitive + Professional payment (n=X, 53%) + Social Mission (n=X, 80%) + Competitive Wages (n=X, 53%) Development (47%) + Brand (n=X, 40%) tools + Word-of-Mouth Referrals (n=X, 86%) + Word-of-Mouth Referrals (n=X, 86%) + Word-of-Mouth Referrals (n=X, 62%) + Recruiting Agency (n=X, 52%) Krauel Montgomery, April 2010 Copyright 2010 Acumen Fund Lessons from the Field Sales at the Bottom of the Pyramid in role-playing scenarios, trial product demonstrationsvii, or sales contests with potential customers. Post-hire, companies can invest in comprehensive, hard skills training reinforced by thoughtful performance assessment and compensation schemes. This emphasis on recruiting first for soft skills, and then augmenting with training, corresponds with research of Mayer and Greenberg, who advocate for the hiring of employees with real sales ability and talent, instead of mere experience. iii During the recruiting process, BoP managers should keep in mind the unique assets that attract sales people to the particular stage of their company. Start-ups (classified as fewer than 20 employees) can boast of the energy of a new venture and also tout their social mission. Small Enterprises (20-100 employees), on the different hand, can boast of more competitive wages and professional development opportunities. With Medium Large Organiz ations (101-500+ employees), brand recognition becomes more important, though social missionRecruit for soft skills not fitting years of experiencesalesperson interviewees should be able to shine in roleplaying scenarios and trial product demonstrations. and competitive wages also play an total part in attracting sales people. Across the board, using word-of-mouth referrals is one of the most important recruiting tools. For Medium Large Organizations, use of recruitment agencies becomes more common. newspaper advertisements are another popular recruiting strategy, while little use is made of recruiting or company websites in the hiring process.Lastly, companies of all sizes report keeping senior managers instantaneously involved in hiring sales staff, with 79% overall indicating that the CEO or similar person is directly involved in sales force recruitment. RECRuIt Innovations from the FieldQuotes from survey responses We communicate this activity as a entrepreneurial opportuni tywhich would eventually help them in showing business practices in accessory to serving their community. Indian consumer products company We try to rope in satisfied customers as sales people. Indian energy product company We identify sales people by analyzing if they have visited family in the countryside recently because that is where they will work with us. Latin American energy products company Motivating staff to the social impact of our products. Since the message is out and understood, our staff will go the extra mile. African food products company Step Two Realize Potential Barrier Effectively training sales people in a way that is consistent with ompany strategy and priorities Breakthrough Realize potential using ongoing, experiential training based on ground realities As a manager from a Large European Consumer Goods Company states, Training is the key, it takes time to develop a BoP sales force. The value of sales training programs depends on the actual number of t raining hours along with the quality of the curriculum and instructors. Sixty-five percent of High performing companies conduct at least 10 hours of initial training during the first month of employment compared to only 30% of Medium and 33% of Low Performers. For most HighKrauel Montgomery, April 2010 Copyright 2010 Acumen Fund 5 Lessons from the Field Sales at the Bottom of the Pyramid tRAInIng PRACtICES BY COMPAnY PERFORMAnCE RAtIng (n=42) HIgH (n=20) Specialized sales training 10+ hours initial sales training Ongoing sales training Experiential sales training 85% 65% 85% 85% MEDIuM (n=10) 60% 30% 70% 80% LOW (n=12) 58% 33% 42% 62% Performers, the initial training is complemented by periodic refreshers. Eighty-five percent of High performing companies conduct ongoing training compared to 70% of Medium performing companies and 42% of Low performing companies.Not surprisingly, High performing companies dedicate more time to training sales staff, but quantity alone is not suffici ent. Many companies insinuate that experiential training is the most effective method of training sales people. At least 80% of High and Medium Performers focus on experiential training (role plays, shadowing, etc. ) as opposed to pure lecture form, compared to just 62% of Low Performers. This finding corresponds with the research of Galloix and Robinson x, which cites the importance of role-playing in training good salesmen.Survey findings show a disconnect between the challenges sales staff face in the field and the sales training programs that companies offer. Market prioritization and time management are consistently rated as the top challenges managers face with salespeople, but fewer than half of participating companies provide training in these areas. While High Performers are generally more pleased with the quality of their training programs, only 40% indicate that sales staff have actually acquired the knowledge and skills necessary to be effective in the field, compared t o just 20% of Medium performing companies and 0% of Low performing companies.Recent research from the developed world suggests that highperforming SMEs successfully integrate RD into customer outreach (sales and marketing). xi Perhaps, organizations selling to the BoP can benefit from do training a priority and ensuring that training programs are ongoing, consistent with company priorities, and relevant to the on-the-ground realities that sales people face. xii REALIzE Innovations from the Field We gave a one-day training that included a morning full of lecture. The second half of the day, we dropped sales people off in random villages and asked them to sell a product in one hour. Pakistani agricultural product company We blend classroom training and demonstration camps.This provides participants an opportunity to learn, apply theoretical learning in live camps and again come back to classroom for clarification about doubts/feedback. Indian consumer goods company We do our operati onal training in the field with a new customer in as public a place as possible to create a buzz while doing the training. African consumer services company Step Three Reinforce Training Barrier Poor performance of sales staff Breakthrough Reinforce training and ompany strategy by linking smart data collection with perks and performance-based compensation Krauel Montgomery, April 2010 Copyright 2010 Acumen Fund 6 Lessons from the Field Sales at the Bottom of the Pyramid High Performers use rigorous data collection and innovative compensation schemes to reinforce company sales strategy and boost performance. xiii Data collection Nearly all companies (95%) collect basic sales data on a regular basis, and many High and Medium Performers collect sales data on a every week or if not daily basis (63% vs. 33% of Low Performers).This is striking given how challenging data collection can be in developing countries that lack robust IT and communication infrastructure. This challenge is c ompounded for companies with sales staff that live and work in the underserved communities they are trying to reach (mainly low-income, rural). Companies are severance through these infrastructure barriers by using a blend of SMS, verbal, netmail and paper-based methods to capture results from the field. These IT-light practices dont necessarily change as companies get larger, with 55% of companies with 100 or more employees reporting continued use of verbal reporting.However, older companies (five or more years of operation) report increased use of email and erratic phones in data collection along with decreased use of paper and verbal methods. High Performers also report limited use of verbal reporting (only 30% compared to 60% of Medium and Low Performers). These findings suggest that BoP companies may be able to avoid investment in expensive ERP or CRM systems, but that there is significant value in adopting rigorous low-tech solutions that are easy to follow, consistently us ed, relatively scalable, and that limit errors. iv High performing companies are also much more likely to dedicate training time specifically to data reporting. With compliance with company policies consistently ranked among the top two or three sales force priorities, frequent data collection integrated into training and compensation schemes may be a underutilized but promising practice.xv REInFORCEDAtA Innovations from the Field Ensure data collection is seen as a specific skill. Indian healthcare service provider We give minor incentives to the top performers in each weeks data metric. African equipment company We issue discount coupons in order to capture data from customers. India financial services company Compensation Surprisingly, survey responders did not report the inability to offer competitive wages as a significant barrier to growth. Fewer than one-in-four companies note wages as one of the top two challenges in hiring salespeople. However, what these BoPfacing compa nies might be gaining in sales force affordability, they may be losing in productivity and performance. Company responders are using creative compensation schemes to breakthrough the performance barrier.High performing companies are less likely than Medium and Low Performers to offer variable compensation (35% vs. 70% and 50%, respectively), but those High Performers that offer bonuses and/or commissions, do so aggressively. For High Performers, variable compensation constitutes 46% of total compensation compared to 21% at Low Performers. High Performers are also more likely to complement pay packages with attractive perks and benefits, with 75% offering perks compared to 42% of Low Performers. This raises the point as to how companies think about allocating employee-related expenditures.Targeting rural, low-income clients often translates into long hours, extensive travel, and limited creature comforts for sales staff. BoP companies may benefit from capping overall sales wages at m arket-rates and investing remaining funds towards employee health insurance, Companies have other levers to pull when it comes to data collection. Forty-five percent of High Performers tie data reporting to compensation, compared to 33% of Low Performers. High performing companies are also much more likely to dedicate training time specifically to data reporting (71% compared to just 50% of Low and Medium Performers).Krauel & Montgomery, April 2010 Copyright 2010 Acumen Fund 7 Lessons from the Field Sales at the Bottom of the Pyramid transportation, lodging, meals, mobile phones, or retirement plans perks that can improve a salespersons quality of life while also directly supporting sales-related activities. REInFORCE stipend Innovations from the Field + Eco-friendly paper salesmen are eligible for profit-sharing. + Rural energy salesman receive bonuses on a sliding scale, based on company performance. ConclusionAfter 50 or more years of somewhat ineffectual international develop ment efforts, there is a new awakening among practitioners and business leaders around a different way to approach the problems of poverty through market-based approaches. At the heart of every market-based approach, there is a customer and a company. And, at the heart of every customer relationship, there is a sales force. In many ways, the success or failure of the BoP movement will hinge upon companies and organizations abilities to build and maintain high performing sales organizations.Interestingly, our findings resonate with existing academic research on how to construct effective sales organizations, and perhaps BoP businesses can also learn from the best practices in sales force development for SMEs. The first step BoP-facing social enterprises can take to confront challenges with less developed labor markets is to all the way articulate their unique company assets (based on company stage) as they actively Recruit sales staff with strong soft skills who can become genuine ambassadors and champions of the company.Next, companies can Realize sales force potential with ongoing and experience-based training programs, designed with on-the-ground realities in mind. Lastly, linking training topics to targeted data collection and compensation schemes can help to Reinforce and institutionalize company priorities and sales strategies. + African salespeople receive live chickens as rewards during sales meetings. + Latin American rural logistics company provides funds for vacation travel. + Rural energy company follows open book management so sales team sees how their performance fits in. + Community water system company provides salesmen ith truth shares.

Kaleidoscope

Kaleidoscope by Ray Bradbury I am fortunate enough to take a wonderful course that alone focused on Bradbury and his work, taught by his very own biographer. IVe never read as many stories written by a single author before. plain so, I can safely say that he is one of the best writers IVe ever read. Kaleidoscope, which appears in Bradburys remarkable short bilgewater collection, The Illustrated Man, is a story that literally sends you up into outer space. The name itself gives us an idea what this story is close to. The bright colors and hanging views, it is an interesting story but not one that is so funny to read.From the very beginning we know that these men are dead and everything that we are able to do is Just to watch them are dyeing without frequently hope. This is a kind of deeply philosophical and introspective tale, which is the hallmark of Bradburys writing. Through a simple accident in space, a rocket full of astronauts explodes and its confederacy is strewn across the emptiness, falling until their oxygen runs out, or until they collide with meteors or the Moon, or the Earth. Kaleidoscope really is a plot-wise story. It begins after the ship has already exploded.Most of the story takes place from a vantage point close to Hollis. He is the main character and the captain of the ship, a man who has hidden his emotions for most of his bread and butter. He went into space because it helped him to avoid women and he clearly envies those men who have better luck with women. He tries to convince himself that in that respect is no difference between him and them but he knows that it isnt true, they have memories, and he has only dreams. So we can see what he sees as the Earths gravity is pulling him in. And soon Hollis is alone, alone with his thought.As these men hurtle toward their fate, feeling helpless in preventing their own deaths, they understandably bicker and find fault with each other. One of the men is the most calm about his death having lived a good life, provided theres a particularly compelling argument between Hollis and Lespere, an apparent womanizer who has actually no regrets, as I have already said, and who lets Hollis know about it. And Hollis retorts that it doesnt matter, that heyre all meeting the same fate now, and Lesperes life experiences doesnt make his life any better than that of Hollis.But, as Lespere explains, l got my thoughts, I remember. On the one hand, a bleakly existentialist view is advanced by Hollis in the end we all die alone and death renders everything before it pointless. While this may be philosophically sound, though thats in addition debatable, it doesnt have the emotional resonance of Lesperes assertion that one must live as fully as possible, in parade to better accept death when the time comes. The fact that Lespere has led a orally reprehensible life, indulging in bigamy and gambling, for starters is Bradburys way of cautioning about the extremes of such an attitude.In th e end, there is a sense of redemption in Hollis becoming a star upon which a little boy makes a wish. What is really important is that the whole story is telling of the human condition. We as humans, by our nature, become incredibly reflective when we know the end is near. We might even become bitter and spiteful and reproof out. Moreover, the question of how people face death is one that is well worth exploring, but in any ypes of tragedy on the Earth, that doesnt kill people presently means that they Bradbury gets around exactly that problem by setting Kaleidoscope.The main theme, I believe, is that life is unpredictable and you should enjoy or relish every stand by of it because you never know when it will be taken from you or someone close to you. The many insignificant squabbles that we constantly encounter in life do not amount to a hill of beans. What is important is love The beauty of this world is many faceted like a kaleidoscopes image but also very fragile and brief Ju st like each eparate image in the scope.Some people realize this and live accordingly while others do not until the very end when it is too late. And yet, even with those memories, were still the same in those final moments before the end The story seems to take the side of memories, of having done something with ones life while given the opportunity. Ultimately, Kaleidoscope is the kind of story which provides the opportunity for reflection. Its the epitome of science-fiction, using hypothetical circumstances to take a deeper look at the human condition.

Hip-Hop and R&B Essay

It is safe to say that expressing oneself is exerted differently amongst individuals and forms, and in many cases an art is take a shitd. The list of different art forms, artificers, art-type etc. extends, and a favourite art form on this list includes music. euphony is a category in relation to art, but also contains many categories within itself. It is a liberal subject that connects from Country, Pop, Gospel, Opera, Hip-Hop, Rap, Tech, R&B etc. I am an individual who sees the beauty and greatness in all music, but happens to be passionate almost two particular genres previously listed. R&B and Hip-Hop are two genres of music that are capable of dissection into small details, separating their differences and similarities. When I listen to and/or observe these two genres, I tend to notice certain contrasts and comparisons. The two music genres, Hip-Hop and R&B, share many similarities and differences especially involving the formatting, lyricism, and tone and/or melodies.Hip-H op and R&B songs are both constructed with different instrumentals, but sometimes vary in style. R&B songs tend to portray much of a relaxed, sensual feel, whereas Hip-Hop songs are more for dancing actively. Two of my favorite R&B and Hip-Hop songs at the moment, Paint This House and immemorial, exemplify this. In these songs, like many others, certain keys are used promoting a base sound. Base appears often in Hip-Hip songs, and is usually recognized by its distinct sound in relation to a boom noise. Parties and clubs show how this sound incorporated with music affects lot. Along with the crowd, the Hip-Hop songs instrumentals, inclusive of a base, makes people want to dance as also, the case with me. The instrumental also plays a role in the interpreter of a song, leading to an artists come on to the song. When I hear certain R&B beats, I automatically think of how I would sing on it and lyrics. The simple formation of the instrumental affects my lookout and mood, leading to sadness, anger, or happiness etc. related lyricism. The occurrence of these emotions in songs could also display its genre.Various artists belonging to these groups outline their songs based on theirgenre. The artists genre affects the songs lyricism with the two genres different purposes. There have been countless times that I have altered the style I sing or rap a song, because of its genre amplifying or altering my mood. A television show I watched one time, broadcasted an interview with the R&B artist Brandy an interview in which Brandy exemplified how the instrumental she received, moved her and in a sense, her voice. Most Hip-Hop artists songs differ in lyricism from R&B songs, to appeal to different audiences. Some people only enjoy certain types of music, leaving the void filled by artists that make such songs. Certain vocalization could also prove to attract people, like high-pitched vocals on songs.With the exception of a rapper on an R&B song, singers display more vocal -play on songs. With the melodies singers create, R&B songs differ from Hip-Hop songs though Hip-Hop artists sometimes create melodies without always singing. Pop and rap songs played on the radio now provide examples of a method of singing, without having to actually sing much this method is known as Auto-tune, which makes a computerized noise. A singer can also create a Hip-Hop song, though Hip-Hop songs are usually rap-oriented. Different R&B artists have experimented with rap in their music, reciting rap-influenced lyrics with a melody. Various cases charge show how singers use Hip-Hop instrumentals at times, but sing personal, self-written, or unrelated lyrics. I have covered songs with friends in which I sang and was at an advantage on certain vocal parts, seeing as how I naturally sing. This ability allows me to alter songs in a different way, including Hip-Hop songs.Music is one factor possessing the ability of creation through countless amount of ways. A slight noise coul d trigger my instinct to create a sweet beat from it, and sing random lyrics. This effect is not only the case with me, but many musical geniuses existing today or previously. Music serves as a stress-reliever, escape etc. so it ultimately affects the production of a song. It is these changes in the formation, that leads to noticeable similarities and differences of a song. The music genres, Hip-Hop and R&B, play a major role in society differentiating whilst also relating this, in terms of different factors shaping the production of a song. To make a song,many aspects could be assessed connecting from choice of words, beat etc. These particular aspects are the main ones I pay attention to when listening to music, providing a platform in which to compare and/or contrast in many ways.

Erosion: Fertilizer and Conservation Stewardship Program

There are three causes of priming coat erosion over cultivation, overgrazing, and deforestation. All of these causes can be corrected in incompatible panaches. Over cultivation is when the province is repeatedly tiling and producing crops faster than the soil can restore resulting in a decrease in the soil harbor and productivity. One of the ways that over cultivation can be corrected is by a technique called no-till agriculture. No-till agriculture is a procedure where chemicals kill weeds and the seeds are planted without having to plow the soil. Fertilizer is another source of correction in over cultivation.Fertilizer is a process in which nutrients such as organic fertilizer and inorganic fertilizer are added to the soil to nutrient the crops. Organic fertilizers consist of manure and inorganic fertilizers consist of chemical fertilizers. Other methods are used to prevent over cultivation such as contour strip cropping and shelterbelts. Contour strip cropping is where the farmer will plow the land crosswise rather than up and down which reduces the occurrence of water erosion. The rows of trees around the plowed land are called shelterbelts reducing the risk of wind erosion.Overgrazing is another cause of soil erosion. Overgrazing is where there are more animals existing on a piece of land than the land can maintain. During the process of overgrazing the land losses its grass ware and the land becomes bare causing wind and water erosion leaving the soil tainted. The Conservation Stewardship program provides information on how farmers can burn woody plants giving them the means to be able to plant grass seeds that hold water and to be able to manage cattle and move them to another land stopping overgrazing from occurring.The means of removing trees and vegetation covering soil and converting the forest into another land of use causing erosion and soil productiveness is called deforestation. The best way to correct deforestation is to cut down trees and to plant more trees. There have been many organizations developed to try to stop deforestation. Some of these organizations are bear on for Global Developments, Group of Earth Observations, and Avoided Deforestation Partners.

Ethics †Meaning of life Essay

1. The Meaning of Life Connect your ideas on the essential meaning of life to the views of at least one(a) philosopher. This philosopher fuel be someone whom we studied or stomach pick out from an outside source. You might connect your ideas in a harmonious or contradictory way. hold the academic resources aligned with this course to find a philosopher that coincides with or contradicts your own ideas. Your initial post should be at least 150 words in length. Support your claims with examples from this weeks required material(s) and/or other scholarly resources, and properly cite any references.Respond to at least two of your classmates posts by Day 7. What gives human life meaning? I think Immanuel Kant said it best when he asked the three question that make up what it is to be human. What can I know? What ought I to do? What may I hope? (Ch. 5. 4, Mosser) I think that it is what we do with our lives that make them worth living. The peoples lives that we shade and help are wh at give our own lives meaning. How should one act in the world once one realizes this meaning? One should follow the consequentialist theory.Meaning that one should make the choices that will bring about the most benefits to everyone non just ones self. How do you know? I know by the impression that is left after I help others. This feeling is what drives us to give, to help to reach out and continue helping others. Most of us do not enjoy the thought of others suffering, so it would make sense that they would enjoy call foring others happy. As they say happiness is contagious. References Mosser, K. (2010). Philosophy A Concise Intro. San Diego, CA Bridgepoint Education, Inc. later on watching Relationship of Philosophy to Other Fields, reflect on the relationship of ism to your life in terms of your future education and career What look on does philosophy have? I am getting my bachelors in health care administration, in laments terms I will be the lady to bowl over you forms and answer immediate question when you come into a hospital. Having philosophy in my life will actually help by enabling me to help patients when they come in, by being better able to answer their question.Example A patients asks Why is it taking so long? My response I having taken philosophy can respond by giving them an answer that would eliminate all why questions and would help them feel a little more at calm with their wait. How can people benefit from thinking more philosophically? They can benefit by broadening their way of thinking, which in turns helps escort more and see things from a different point of view. How does philosophy affect ethical issues?Philosophy describes how humans should behave while ethics describes what is right and wrong and how we should respond to the situation. unfortunately they do not always go hand in hand. What significance does thinking and reasoning critically play in society, and in human prosperous? Thinkings is what brought about the wh eel or electricity. It is those that stop and ask why not, these are the people that flourish in society. It is using your brain to understand things not just what you can see but also what you cannot.