Essay on Economies Diseconomies of Scale - 1125 Words

Economies and Diseconomies of Scale A case for McDonalds amp; Movie Theaters By Michele Tarrence Econ 202 Economies of scale are defined as ‘forces that reduce a firm’s average cost as scale of operation increases in the long run. The opposite of this would be diseconomies of scale, meaning ‘forces that may eventually increase a firms average cost as the scale of operation increases in the long run. Most every company has both the economies and diseconomies of scale that can be analyzed. In the following paragraphs I will tell of some of these scales in both movie theaters and the ever popular McDonalds. McDonalds is the 8th most valuable brands in the world. They have approximately 32,000 restaurants located in over 120†¦show more content†¦Executives at the firm level have many years of experience that is relayed to the new management in training to help all restaurants stay uniform. They can buy in bulk in order to keep it at a lower cost forcing their competition to stay at lower prices. They choose suppliers that can mass produce good quality food that turns out a good product that the consumers enjoy for both the price and taste. They are able to share advertising and research with the 32,000 restaurants in order to meet markets all around the world. They have advertised at such places as the Olympics and many other events reaching hundreds of thousands of people. Some of the diseconomies may be that they have such a large production and operation that it can be hard to stay uniform for such a production. They must also keep their menu uniform throughout the world and yet they must accommodate the country and culture that they are located in. The suppliers cannot be located in an area that may be subject to a possible drought or other places that could be exposed to supernatural weather. This would drive the price of the product up making it less profitable. McDonalds spends a lot of time in research, but some of these research projects have actually taken years to develop which in turn cost money making it harder to recoup the money spent. For example, it took McDonalds over 7 years to develop chicken nuggets and yet to accommodate customerShow MoreRelated The impact of economies and diseconomies of scale Tesco face962 Words   |  4 PagesThe impact of economies and diseconomies of scale Tesco face As businesses grow and their output increases, they commonly benefit from a reduction in average costs of production. Total costs will increase with increases in output, but the cost of producing each unit falls as output increases. This reduction in average costs is what gives larger firms a competitive advantage over smaller firms. This fall in average costs as output increases is known as Economies of Scale. Tesco benefitRead MoreEconomies of Scale1368 Words   |  6 PagesThe Economies and Diseconomies of Scale and Scope Introduction   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Most of the company’s strategy in remaining to be competitive is trying to differentiate and get over its rivals which has the intentions of realizing the preferred seller and will have the highest returns into the industry. Thus, the choice of the firm had been affected relatively to the minimum efficient scale and the major issues that had been tackled to this issue are the economies and diseconomies of scale and scopeRead MoreManagerial Questions On Managerial Economics1736 Words   |  7 PagesINTRODUCTION†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..3 TYPES OF DISECONOMIES†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.5 DECENTRALIZATION†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦6 CONCLUSION†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..7 REFERENCE†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.8 What are managerial diseconomies of scale and what, if anything, can be done about this phenomenon? Decreasing returns to scale or diseconomies of scale implies rising average costs (AC) as the firm’s output and scale increase (Samuelson and MarksRead MoreEvaluate the View That the Separation of Ownership from Control in Large Firms Inevitably Causes Diseconomies of Scale1246 Words   |  5 PagesEvaluate the view that the separation of ownership from control in large firms inevitably causes diseconomies of scale In this essay I plan to show what consequences there are from a separation of ownership from control and what effects could occur as a result. I will be arguing whether managers are worth the cost of hiring, to the business as a whole, giving examples of problems that may arise in these types of situations and what impact they can cause. The separation of ownership in large firmsRead MoreThe Strategy Of Procter Gamble931 Words   |  4 Pages 1 Economies of Scope Economies of Scope: The strategy of Procter Gamble Jayme LaForte Patten University 2 Economies of Scope Abstract E conomies of scope play a suffi cient role in the success of business production. Diseconomies of scope can bring harm to one ’ s busin ess, while joint costs can bri n g natural opportunities for economy of scope to b ring succes sful production. The key to ec onomies of scope is being able to reduce the average cost for a business in their production lineRead MoreDemand, Supply, Price Ceilings And Price Floors1514 Words   |  7 Pagesfinancially. Government therefore has to safeguard its interests as well as protect all players in its economy from exploitation. Economies and Diseconomies of Scale and the shape of the Long run Cost Curve (1) Distinguish between economies and diseconomies of scale Economies of Scale can be described as the cost savings or the cost economies that a business can exploit by expanding its scale of production in the long run. This leads to an increase in the business’s output as a result of anRead MoreImplicit Cost Of An Explicit Cost Essay1304 Words   |  6 Pagescustomers under similar circumstances as described above will also make the accounting profit to differ from the economic profit. C) Economies of scale allude to the possibility that as more units of items are produced, the marginal cost or the cost per additional unit produced diminishes as a result of increased efficiency. (OpenStax Economics, 2016) Diseconomies of scale, on the other hand, occur when a business or organization turns out to be so huge, or so wasteful that, as the organization increasesRead MoreImplicit Cost Of An Explicit Cost Essay1302 Words   |  6 Pagescustomers under similar circumstances as described above will also make the accounting profit to differ from the economic profit. C) Economies of scale allude to the possibility that as more units of items are produced, the marginal cost or the cost per additional unit produced diminishes as a result of increased efficiency. (OpenStax Economics, 2016) Diseconomies of scale, on the other hand, occur when a business or organization turns out to be so huge, or so wasteful that, as the organization increasesRead More Economies of Scale Essay1655 Words   |  7 PagesEconomies of Scale Economics Test 1. Define and explain all Internal Economies of Scale:  · Internal Economies of Scale:Are reductions in long-run average cost as the size and output of a firm increases. In other words, they are advantages that large firms have because they are large. As they grow larger in the long-run they manage to raise their output faster than the rise in their total costs. The result is lower long-run average cost. - Marketing economies- Both in buying materialsRead MoreThe Theoretical Basis Of Congestion Costs954 Words   |  4 Pages2.2 Theoretical basis of congestion costs (diseconomies) One by-product of agglomeration is congestion, which arise as economic agents compete for limited land, limited output markets, and limited fixed public infrastructure such as highways and communication facilities. Other negative consequences of agglomeration such as environmental pollution, noise, and high crime rates may also occur. In general, congestion externalities originate from the difference between private and social costs. The literature

Essay on Ludwig Van Beethoven - 1148 Words

When you look at the world and all the people on it as a whole, you see that there are very few influential people whose actions or opinions strongly influence the course of events. Ludwig Van Beethoven, a German musician, is one of those very few. He was an extraordinary musician that lived through hardship and had the horrific fate of deafness, any musician’s worst nightmare. Beethoven left a wall standing in history that captured the art of sounds and worked it beyond imagination into music so fragile and pure yet onerous, unable to be matched by any succeeding composer. His determination to push music forward, go beyond the thinkable, and make it his own, has made a huge impact on all music forever going forward. Beethoven had a†¦show more content†¦Instead, he worked with HAYDN and J. G. Albrechtsberger. Soon Beethoven would begin to make his mark as a pianist and as a â€Å"daring and unorthodox composer.†(Literary Reference Center) When Beethoven was 28, in 1798, he began seeing signs of deafness; this progressively got worse. â€Å"He struggled against the gradual loss of his hearing. For a musician, there is nothing more tragic. A deaf musician is like a painter without fingers, a soccer player without feet. Beethoven could not hear the sound of musical instruments or the pitch of a single note. Although his fate challenged him, miraculously, his best works were completed after he went deaf.†(History Reference Center) Although it may seem like Beethoven was barely hazed by his deafness, it actually brought him great stress. Beethoven steadily started drawing away from people and close friends; as the lack of hearing grew he got really frustrated at times. He got to where he stopped caring about his appearance, left his hair tangled and uncombed, clothes tattered and rumpled. He became really bitter and unpleasant to be around; if one of his maids brought him soup he didn’t like, he would just s mash the bowl on the ground. Beethoven was alone in the world, and that is why towards the end of his life his music was even more emotional and expressive. Ludwig Van Beethoven was a very prolific composer and had a vastShow MoreRelatedLudwig Van Beethoven945 Words   |  4 PagesLudwig van Beethoven Beethoven was born in Bonn, Germany in 1770 to Johann van Beethoven and his wife, Maria Magdalena. He took his first music lessons from his father, who was tenor in the choir of the archbishop-elector of Cologne. His father was an unstable, yet ambitious man whose excessive drinking, rough temper and anxiety surprisingly did not diminish Beethoven s love for music. He studied and performed with great success, despite becoming the breadwinner of his household by the time heRead More Ludwig Van Beethoven Essay1285 Words   |  6 Pages German composer and pianist, Ludwig van Beethoven, was born December 1770 and spent most of his life in Vienna, Austria. His first teacher was his alcoholic father, who worked as a musician at the Court of Bonn. Teaching him day and night, Ludwig suffered from his fathers harsh and erratic behavior. For a time, he and his father played at the Church. As his fathers alcoholism increased, Ludwig became the main musician. Beethovens talents were discovered at an early age, and he was sentRead MoreThe Music Of Ludwig Van Beethoven900 Words   |  4 PagesLudwig van Beethoven All throughout music history lived many composers that have impacted not only the societies in which they have lived in, but modern-day society as well. These particular composers have given many societies the chance to listen, feel and express themselves through music and instruments that were invented centuries ago that still remain essential components of music today. One example of a composer that changed the music world drastically was a man by the name of Ludwig van BeethovenRead MoreThe Talent Of Beethoven By Ludwig Van Beethoven1331 Words   |  6 PagesMany of my family members along with some family friends suffer from an extreme lack of hearing just like one of the greatest composers of all time, Ludwig van Beethoven. However, my family members and family friends are not musicians. The talent of Beethoven is very inspiring for not only the deaf, but for other people as well. He created most of his music while suffering from hearing loss which seems to be quite impossible , but somehow he managed to do it. Though his music is without a doubt unbelievablyRead MoreThe Music Of Ludwig Van Beethoven1408 Words   |  6 PagesLudwig van Beethoven When I was 7 years old, my parents signed me up for music school. I did not want to go to music school, but they wanted me just to try. In first class we were just listening classical music and it really sounded boring. But when Beethoven’s fifth symphony came on, I fell in love with classical music and I wanted to study it even more. My sister was also in musical school and she played piano and when I came back from school, I was begging her to play me some of Beethoven’s piecesRead MoreThe Music Of Ludwig Van Beethoven1600 Words   |  7 PagesLudwig van Beethoven is known for much of his musical accomplishments. One of his most famous is that he is deaf and yet one of the best musical composers of the classical and romanic area. Beethoven has always been one of my personal favorite composers. When I grew up and started taking piano, Beethoven s Fur Elise was my first large classical piece. Ever since that point on I insisted that when we were in Germany we see his home, and that we did. In this essay I will be explaining Ludwigs YouthRead MoreThe Rise Of Ludwig Van Beethoven1458 Words   |  6 PagesThe rise of Ludwig van Beethoven into the ranks of history s greatest composers was paralleled by and in some ways a consequence of his own personal tragedy and despair. Beginning in the late 1790 s, the increasing buzzing and humming in his ears sent Beethoven into a panic, searching for a cure from doctor to doctor. By October 1802 he had written the Heiligenstadt Testament confessing the certainty of his growing deafness, his consequent despair, and suicidal considerations. Yet, despiteRead MoreLudwig van Beethoven Essay952 Words   |  4 Pagesmusic period. Ludwig van Beethoven was one of the composers, along with other greats of the time like Haydn and Mozart, which helped to create a new type of music. This new music had full rich sounds created by the new construction of the symphony orchestra. Ludwig van Beethoven was born in the town of Bonn, Germany on December 16 of 1770. Bonn is located in western Germany on the Rhine River. Beethoven showed an affinity for music at an early age. His father, Johann, taught Ludwig to play theRead MoreMusic: Ludwig Van Beethoven1670 Words   |  7 Pagesexpressiveness music is Ludwig van Beethoven. He was a musical genius whose composed some of the most influential pieces of music ever written. During the Classical period, Beethoven’s compositions were the expression as one of the most powerful musical personalities. Although Beethoven was influenced by most of the famous composers such as Franz Joseph Haydn, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, etc. but he was also innovated new techniques that will be seen in the next music period. Beethoven built a musical bridgeRead MoreThe Music Of Ludwig Van Beethoven1701 Words   |  7 Pages Ludwig van Beethoven Music has been around a long time and is a big part of America’s history. There are many styles of music such as, Rap, RB, Jazz, Classical, Oldies and so on. There has been many great composers throughout the years, these people are legends that will stand for ever such as, Beethoven, George Frideric Handel, and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. The one artist that I’m going to write about in this paper is the one and only Ludwig van Beethoven. Beethoven was a deaf German

Walmart Income Statment Comparative Analysis Free Essays

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. Comparative Consolidated Income Statement 2012 Amount Percent 443,854 100. 0% 335,127 75. We will write a custom essay sample on Walmart Income Statment Comparative Analysis or any similar topic only for you Order Now 5% 108,727 24. 5% 85,265 19. 2% 23,462 5. 3% 3,096 0. 7% 2,160 0. 5% 24,398 5. 5% 7,944 1. 8% 16,454 3. 7% 2011 Amount Percent 418,952 100. 0% 314,946 75. 2% 104,006 24. 8% 81,361 19. 4% 22,645 5. 4% 2,897 0. 7% 2,004 0. 5% 23,538 5. 6% 7,579 1. 8% 15,959 3. 8% 2010 Amount Percent 405,132 100. 0% 304,106 75. 1% 101,026 24. 9% 79,977 19. 7% 21,049 5. % 2,953 0. 7% 1,884 0. 5% 22,118 5. 5% 7,156 1. 8% 14,962 3. 7% Net Sales Cost of Goods Sold Gross Profit Operating Expenses Income from Opertaions Other Revenues and Gains Other Expenses and Losses Income before Income Tax Provision Income Tax Provision Net Income From above comparative income statement for threes years, Walmart has lower percentage gross profit for 2012 compare with previous two year, which caused by increased cost of goods sold. However the dollar amount for net sales is increasing from year to year. Operating expenses are decreased for the percentage comparation, this is a favorable trend. Again the dollar amount increased. Even the other renenues, gains and other expenses, losses percentage remain the same for the past three years, but dollar amount increased. The income tax rate for the past three years are remained consistent . How to cite Walmart Income Statment Comparative Analysis, Essay examples

The World Distribution of Population Essay Example

The World Distribution of Population Essay The world distribution of population is as important as the world distribution of areas of tectonic activity in predicting the hazards of volcanic activity. Discuss this statement (40 marks) A hazard is a danger or risk and a natural disaster deals out a great number. It can be hypothesised that the greatest hazards posed by natural disasters are upon humans, so in knowing where populations are located we can predict the risks of volcanic activity. Hence, it appears common sense would dictate the statement to be entirely true, however, with the addition of a distinction between two arguments it is not always the case.The first states that in a dense area the main hazard is high death tolls, infrastructure loss, famine and epidemics, so distribution of population is vitally important, but the second identifies how in areas of sparse population, other severe effects will occur so population distribution is limited in its predictive advantage; additional effects being those on an international scale, environmental and supply side shocks. Population distribution refers to the patterns of people spread across a given area, often associated with population density (the average number of people per square kilometre).The map below shows how populations are mostly concentrated near coastlines and in habitable environments (i.e. We will write a custom essay sample on The World Distribution of Population specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on The World Distribution of Population specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on The World Distribution of Population specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Europe rather than the Arctic Circle), overall. Further to this, 50.5% live in urban areas and world population is highly concentrated in areas rich in resources (coal, oil, minerals, fishing) and temperate in climate. The reason being that people need a source of income,provided by natural resources to some extent, whilst temperate climates provide rain and heat for growing crops, essential for emerging developing economies and previously vital for the developed economies whose focuses now lie in secondary, tertiary or quaternary sectors.Tectonic activity distribution refers to how the movements in the Earths plates lead to distinctive areas and patterns where seismic activity occurs, leading to events such as tsunamis, volcanoes and earthquakes. In the map below, it is evident that these features of tectonic activity, occur along plate boundaries as these are the causation for seismic activity. A particularly area of distribution is the Ring of Fire because it exemplifies the connection between the risks associated with high density areas of population and seismic activity combined.In laying home to over 800 million people, 90% of world earthquake activity and 50% of the worlds active volcanoes; the links between the two variables needed to calculate risk are impossible to ignore. From the detailed comparison of the maps above, the West coasts of South America and North America and the Ring of Fire region have both density of volcanoes and people; strong positive correlation between the two variables implicit of how both are necessary in hazard prediction. However, the volcanoes will always stay in situe so the dynamic changes of population density do appear more dominant in terms of volcanic hazards.In using the population trends stated previously there are a great many factors drawing people into areas of seismic activity so population distribution is only going to increa se in density within seismic prone areas, so human dispersion is vital in recognising both future and current hazards. All preceding knowledge is summed up in Kofi Annans assessment:At no time in human history have so many people lived in cities clustered around seismically active areasPoor land-use planning; environmental mismanagement; and a lack of regulatory mechanisms both increase the risk and exacerbate the effects of disasters, which clearly illustrates the relationship between volcanic disasters, populations, planning and development; demonstrating the vital influence of population change in risk reduction.Furthermore, humans being the victims of the greatest hazard is emphatic given half a billion people live in spitting distance of active volcanoes. Therefore, all such theory leads me to exemplify the two arguments stated previously: In light of the first argument, the main hazard to any natural disaster is humans, so in densely populated areas their location must be take n into account. In the case of the Mount Nyiragongo eruption (Congo), its proximity to the dense population of the city of Goma, 16km south-west of the volcano, increased hazards. With a population of 500,000 people, 147 were killed because the 40mph lava flows reached the densely populated area quickly.1/3 of Goma was destroyed along with 14 villages along the path to Goma, from the Volcano and through the valley. Therefore, such an eruption would have benefited from focus on the population dispersion analysis rather than just when the volcano would erupt because evacuations needed to have been put in place. The pseudo-mathematical equation for risk Risk = Hazard x Value x Vulnerability / Capacity (Value indicating the elements at risk (number of human lives, economic value of property, etc., while vulnerability refers to factors which increase the susceptibility to he impact of hazards) highlights how the number of human lives and property at risk and the susceptibility of these i ndividuals is a bigger factor than the simplicity of seismic activity distribution because the environment can recoup and the volcano is the effector not the effected. More importantly, the density of Value and Vulnerability

American Cowboy Myth vs Reality

American Cowboy Myth vs Reality Introduction Arguably the most idealized image in America is that of the cowboy. The cowboy is typically pictured as a lone English-speaking, self made man riding majestically on a horse. He surpasses his limits and rises above all troubles. This image of the cowboy inspires patriotic sentiments to the American and is a representation of the American ideals.Advertising We will write a custom dissertation sample on American Cowboy: Myth vs Reality specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Hillis declares that there are few cultural images as widespread and enduring as the image of the American cowboy (17). The conceived image of the cowboy embodies the perceived virtues and abilities of the entire American society. The image of the stereotypical western cowboy who is brave, just and noble has all but erased the truth about the real cowboy who existed in the mid 1800s. Wright acknowledges how much the history of the wild west has become enshrine d in myth by stating that it seems this land has become our tradition- a tradition based not on the West itself but on the myth of the West (24). The West as most people think of it if therefore more of a historical force rather than a historical fact. The reality is that the cowboy (the historical figure) was not as novel as the idealized creation makes him out to be. The battles he waged were seldom just and he did not represent peace. This paper shall set out to give a true depiction of the cowboy by differentiating the myths from the realities. The paper will begin by tracing the birth of the cowboy and how the image of the cowboy has become enshrined in myth. The paper shall then explore the reality of the cowboy so as to reinforce the fact the image of the cowboy that most people have is an invention of myth and not reality. Birth of the Cowboy The Cowboy was born in Texas in the mid 1800s as a result of the great cattle herds that were available. Following the independence of Texas, many Mexican’s fled to the south leaving behind thousands of cattle which were grazing in the marshlands. These cattle were considered public property since they had no owners. The inhabitants of southern Texas discovered that rounding up the strays and driving them to the market was good business. Wallace notes that the concept of rounding up cattle and driving them to the market was nothing new and the practice had been in existence even before the Civil War (17).Advertising Looking for dissertation on history? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Ranches were also established by individuals or companies and here, large herds were reared. The success of a rancher was pegged on his ability to transport the large herds and sell them to the high demand regions. To do this, the cattle had to be moved northwards to the national markets or at least to the railroad shipping destinations. The biggest problem invo lved the path through which the cattle would traverse. This was because settler farmers along the way did not entertain large herds marching over their crops and destroying them. In many cases, lawmen often stopped cattle from going through certain regions. The only path that the cattle drive could take freely was Northwards, through Indian Territory where no law existed. To ensure the success of the cattle drives through this wild lands, a large number of cowboys were needed to mobilize the vast herds of cattle.  Thus as these squads of cowboys drove their herds from South Texas to the north, the era of the American cowboy was born. The journey by the cowboys on the trail was full of perils as they encountered numerous dangers that were traditionally associated with the Mississippi frontier (Hillis 18). In the vast plains, the cowboys where at the mercy of nature which was at times unforgiving. They had to bear with windstorms, prairie fires and even floods. In addition to this, there was the every present risk of attacks from Indians who inhabited the land. However, the reign of the cowboy did not last for long and Hillis documents that less than twenty years after the first cattle drive, conditions developed that ended the cattle drive (18). This conditions included the extension of the railroad lines into the south therefore removing the need for cattle herds to be driven North by Cowboys. In addition to this, local governments drew legal lines that denied the great herds the right to traverse through the plain headed north. Even so, the image of the cowboy continued to grow and with this growth an idealized image of the cowboy was created. This image was embraced by the public and continues to influence the image that most people have of the cowboy. The Myth of the Cowboy The Myth of the cowboy if one of the oldest in America and it is expressed in a wide body of literature and folklore spanning for a period of three centuries. Slotkin records that acco rding to this myth, the means to the achievement of an American national identify was through the conquest of the wilderness and the subjugation of the original inhabitants of the land (10).Advertising We will write a custom dissertation sample on American Cowboy: Myth vs Reality specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More One of the most influential authors on the West, Walter Prescott Webb, describes the cowboy as a man who lives on horseback as do the Bedouins; he fights on horseback, as did the knights of chivalry; he goes armed with a strange new weapon which he uses ambidextrously and precisely; he swears like a trooper, drinks like a fish, wears clothes like an actor, and fights like a devil. He is gracious to the ladies, reserved towards strangers, generous to his friends and brutal to his enemies. He is a cowboy, the typical Westerner (quoted in Frantz and Choate 80).  This description of the cowboy as articulated by Webb embodies th e image of the cowboy within existing literary myth. Sullivan asserts that the cowboy is often required to fight and kill to establish a community that is structured around the European cultural systems (17). In addition to this, this hero is often required to live in the community. This implies that the capacity to colonize was a necessity so as to actualize the expansionist frontier ideal. According to the myth, the cowboy is a man who is in charge of his destiny; he meets the challenges of every day and even in the face of great odds, he does not back down but charges onwards relentlessly. The myth holds that cowboys were universally possessed by a free sprit as they ventured out into the Wild West. These courageous souls feared neither man, brute nor element and embodied the archetype of freedom. Frantz and Choate reveal that this folk figure embodies all the virtues of the Anglo-American man and he was a force to reckon with (72). The historical cowboy was not in charge of his own destiny since cowboys were mostly farm hands who were hired to help drive the large herds to the market. The cowboys sold their skills in return for monetary gains and they followed the command of their masters. This reality contrasts with the mythical image of the cowboy as a self-assured man who is the master of his own fate.  The sophistication which is given to the cowboy is also a creation of myth. Wister Owen who published The Virginian in 1902 is credited with adding a level of sophistication to the cowboy. In his work, he altered the image of the western hero. Even and Pavich state that Wister added gentility to temper the preexistent toughness, courage and cleverness† (370). This image had no historical merit since the cowboy was an unsophisticated farm hand whose livelihood was dependent on his acquired skills with cattle.Advertising Looking for dissertation on history? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Even so, this image of Wisters West was accepted by a large audience and continues to be the basis of the stereotypical cowboy image.  Another mythical image of the legendary cowboy is that of the lawman. This image was first created by Norris who sought to change the image of the cowboy from that of villain. Prior to this, the cowboy had been glamorized as a lawless hero with men such as Buffalo Bill personifying the cowboy. Norris creation presented the cowboy as the heroic Anglo-Saxon who was fighting for law and justice so as to subjugate a wild land (Even and Pavich 374). In his book, The Octopus, Norris represented the cowboy as a good man who was willing to die for a cause. This man was brave, selfless and as such a hero. This is the image that is projected in most of the Western movies where the cowboy rides after the lawless characters and confronts them in an epic gun battle. Here, the selfless cowboy wins through his skill with the six gun, a gun which is symbolized as a weapon of peace and justice Eugene Manlove Rhodes who was a writer who wrote about the cowboy owing to his literary craftsmanship and his involvement in the horse and cattle-West introduced the legacy of The Code of the West. According to this fictitious code, the cowboy was self-reliant, individualistic and accepted danger in all its forms. The cowboy held class distinctions in disdain and had a self-imposed obligation to assist anyone in distress (Even Pavich 517). This myth showcases the cowboy as a person of honor who lives by a code much like the medieval knights did. Even and Pavich note that Eugene Rhodes idealized the notion of the west and his writings were romantic confections as opposed to the real truth. The morality of the community is also embodied in the myth of the cowboy. A man in the Western lands was as great as he desired to be and as good or as bad as he wished. The law only existed within its immediate jurisdiction and outside of it every man was his own law.   Another mythical image of the cowboy is as that of the last frontiersman who led the way for the imposition of order in the Wild West. The acclaimed historian Frederick Turner defines westward expansion as an invisible frontier line separating civilization from savagery (Turner and Faragher 15). American development depended on the advancement of American settlement westwards and the civilizing of the savage regions. The cowboy personified this push of the frontier line forward. According to this myth, the sensible Anglo Americans were able to survive on the land by imposing spatial order on the hostile environment led by the cowboy. The cowboy was a frontier survivor who attempted to lead a peaceful life but was ready to use violent ways (his skills as a gunfighter) to establish peace and justice (Sullivan 122). The cowboy then drove into the sunset presumably to repeat the same scenario in a new uncivilized place further on in the west. This proclamation of the Anglo Americans capacity to impose order on untamed space is deemed by Sullivan as a familiar justification for the imposition of Anglo rule upon the West (121). This myth advances that without a compulsive drive to expand and exploit the opportunities that exist on the other side, a culture and a nation will die or be weakened to the point where they can be dominated by a stronger people. The cowboy is therefore painted as an individual who loves his nation and is fulfilling the patriotic duty of a citizen by assisting in the colonization of the empty space that exists in the West. Reality of the Cowboy The myths about the cowboy paint a hopeful picture that is far from what the reality was. To begin with, the Conquest and settlement of the West which was supposedly led by the cowboys in the 19th century inevitably resulted in the destruction or at best displacement of the native people who had up to that point inhabited the land. According to the cowboy stories, the Indians are shown to be a bar baric and savage tribe. In their journey westwards, the cowboy is constantly attacked by hordes of Indians with their bows and arrows. The cowboy bravely fights off these barbarians and hence spreads civilization to the desolate west. This idealization or the cowboy and demonization of the Indian are far from the truth. In actual sense, the cowboys were guilty of attacking and killing Indians in their quest to acquire land from the natives. Iverson states that when settlers and ranchers wished to expand the horizon of the cattlemans West, the Indians stood in their way (27). As such, they had to be removed and the primary means through which this was achieved was with violence. The western frontier was not a vast and empty land that the cowboy bravely conquered. Instead, the west was Indian land and the Americans were intruders.  The cowboy myth also perpetrates racism in America. This is through the proposal that the American cowboy population was made up entirely of whites. Hist orians estimate that up to 40% of cowboys were Hispanic or black and their influence is evident in western occupational speech and slang (31). Even so, the popular image of the typical cowboy of the Old West is a white square-jawed male with a tilted hat on. Limerick laments that the popular cowboy image ignores important characters: Native Americans, Hispanics and African Americans, who were an integral part of the actual American West story (323). This abject omission of these major players is the product of later racist stereotypes which have been politically and sociologically embraced. Even and Pavich state that the white cowboy removes any acknowledgement of the deeper level of earlier indebtedness to other races that folklore suggested (31). The myth of the cowboy promotes the idea of a racial hierarchy. In this hierarchy, white people and in particular white people from the United States are ranked as first and the other races follow. The racial aspect to the cowboy myth is further highlighted by Sullivan who notes that in most Western stories and movies, the good Anglo American triumphs over the evil Indians and Mexican therefore suggesting racial superiority (22).  Violence is justified through the cowboy myth since it is suggested that only through violent confrontation is peace and civilization achieved. The violence that the hero endures in Slotkins book appears to be justified by the ultimate consequences which is peace through out the land. Slotkin suggests that this theme of regeneration through violence which is recurrent in American frontier mythology may be responsible for the violence perpetrated by Americans both at home and abroad (650). The cowboy myth also sustains the myth of the six gun (which was favored by Anglo Americans) as a weapon for peace. This is ironic considering the fact that the gun was used to forcefully evict the Native Americans from their land.  Cowboys were guilty of engaging in dishonesty and social vices. Sulli van documents that most cowboys took to cattle rustling in a bid to make a quick fortune (34). The cowboys did not only steal from people outside of their community but they also stole from their masters. Cowboys were also adventurers who left their families in search of adventure and or new fortunes in the wild. This image is a big contrast to the image of the cowboy who brings about law and order to the community. In actual sense, cowboys were also responsible for bringing about lawlessness in the community. The conquest of the American West was not an honorable thing as the image of the cowboy suggests. In reality, it was violent and unjust and beneficial only to the immigrants. At the end of most frontier fiction, the cowboy hero is seen disappearing into the far mountains alone. While this image does not state anything explicit, it implies the ideal of self-sufficiency and self-reliance. The cowboy leaves behind him a peaceful and fully functional community. He sets out in sear ch on new territory which he will conquer through his violent frontier skills and later on bring about the same peacefulness that he left behind (Sullivan 17). This myth overlooks the destruction that the cowboy brought about to the â€Å"uncivilized† people even as he set out to establish a civilized settlement. The cowboy was guilty of expediting the process of destroying the native Indians way of life. At the extreme, this destruction resulted in the massacre of entire tribes that stood in the path of the cowboy. In retrospective, the inimitable cowboy Charlie Russell while talking about the old Indian way of life lamented that Theyve been living in heaven for a thousand years and we took it away from em for forty dollars a month (46). Discussion The image of the cowboy continues to be presented as the idealization of American identity. The real cowboy as he existed in historical time has all but disappeared and what remains in his place is an idealized creation of the Ame rican folk. It should be noted that mythology plays a great role in the American national identity. Mythology is the mirror through which the American people can derive an understanding of themselves and their experiences. It connects them with greater ideals and affirms a set of values that culture finds to be desirable. While the myth serves this useful role, it overlooks the catastrophic history that the American immigrants left in their wake as they ventured westwards. The European settlers who first arrived to North America believed that they had discovered a vast and vacant land. The pioneers viewed the unoccupied land as their promised land with complete disregard to the millions of Native Americans who had inhabited the continent for millenniums before the discovery of America by the White settlers. This paper set out to expose the truth about the real cowboy and hence help to differentiate myth from reality. From the discussions presented herein, it is clear that the cowboy saga was not characterized solely by hardships being met and overcome and creating an ideal society from the wilderness. The cowboy saga also included numerous incidents of broken dreams and victimization of the Native Americans who historically owned the land. If history is to be looked at objectively, it is the Indians and not the cowboys who were the heroes. These Indians resisted and fought for their native land which was being invaded by the Americans. While Americans prided themselves with being people of laws, their encounter with the Indians tells a different story. The American’s made treaties with Indians and later went against their words. In instances where the Indians were unwilling to enter into bargains with the American’s they were labeled as enemies and attacked on their own land. This paper exposes the cowboy for who he really was: a hired man of horseback whose actions were seldom noble or inspiring. Without a doubt, the extraordinary journey that c owboys took from Texas to Montana was and remains to be something to be marveled at. The bravery of the cowboys who undertook this drives is without question. However, the powerful symbol of cowboy as it is generally understood is a gross exaggeration and a myth which overlooks the bleak realities of the time. By portraying the Indians as savages, the cowboy myth offers justification for the American subjugation of these native occupants of the land. Conclusion The American cowboy myth continues to play a huge role in American imagination and many people have come to both identify with and accept it as the truth. This paper set out to show the true reality of the cowboy who has for decades been idealized in popular American culture. The paper began by documenting the birth of the cowboy and the mundane reality that constituted the cowboy’s existence. The paper then highlighted the numerous myths of cowboys that are held as truth by the general population. It has been discover ed that this myths were created out of the need for American mythology. The mythical image that we know of today is mostly the work of authors and poets who romanticized the West. This paper has shown the reality of the west in an objective manner. From the arguments given, it has been seen that the cowboy was not a glorious or honorable and just person as myth makes him out to be. Instead, he was an invader who robbed the Native Americans off their lands through violence. From this paper, it is evident that the historically correct cowboy image is marred with a legacy of pain, prejudice and injustice. Even, Larry, and Pavich Paul. A Literary History of the American West. Texas Christian University Press, 1987. Print. Frantz, Joe, and Choate Julian. The American Cowboy: The Myth and the Reality. Wesport, CT: Greenwood Press, 1981. Hillis, Craig. â€Å"Cowboys and Indians: The International Stage†. Journal of Texas Music History, Volume 2, Issue 1. 2002. Iverson, Peter. When Indians Became Cowboys: Native Peoples and Cattle Ranching in the American West. University of Oklahoma Press, 1994. Print. Limerick, P N. The Legacy of Conquest. New York: W. W. Norton, 1987. Print. Slotkin, Richard. Regeneration Through Violence: The Mythology of the American Frontier, 1600-1860. Middletown, Connecticut: Wesleyan University Press, 1987. Print. Sullivan, Tom. Cowboys and Caudillos: Frontier Ideology of The Americas. Popular Press, 1990. Print. Turner, Frederick Jackson, and Faragher John. Rereading Frederick Jackson Turner: the Significance of the Frontier in American History, and Other Essays. New York: H. Holt, 1994. Wallace, Edward. The backside of American History. Jan 2008. Web. Wright, W. Six Guns and Society: A Structural Study of the Western. Berkeley: University of California Press. 1975. Print.

UTC, GMT, and Zulu Time Explained

UTC, GMT, and Zulu Time Explained When you read weather forecasts and maps, you may notice a four-digit number followed by the letter Z somewhere at their bottom or top. This alpha-numeric code is called Z time, UTC, or GMT. All three are time standards in the weather community and keep meteorologists- regardless of where in the world they forecast from- using the same 24-hour clock, which helps avoid confusion when tracking weather events between time zones. Although the three terms are used interchangeably, there are small differences in meaning. GMT Time: Definition Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) is the clock time at the Prime Meridian (0 º longitude) in Greenwich, England. Here, the word mean means average. It refers to the fact that noon GMT is the moment on average each year when the sun is at its highest point in the sky at the Greenwich meridian. (Because of Earths uneven speed in its elliptical orbit and its axial tilt, noon GMT isnt always when the sun crosses the Greenwich meridian.)   History of GMT.  The use of GMT began in 19th century Great Britain when British mariners would use the time at the Greenwich Meridian and the time at their ships position to determine the ships longitude. Because the UK was an advanced maritime nation at the time, other mariners adopted the practice and it eventually spread worldwide as a standard time convention independent of location. The Problem with GMT. For astronomical purposes, the GMT day was said to start at noon and run until noon the following day. This made it easier for astronomers because they could log their observational data (taken overnight) under a single calendar date. But for everyone else, the GMT day started at midnight. When everyone switched to the midnight-based convention in the 1920s and 1930s, this midnight-based time standard was given the new name of Universal Time to avoid any confusion. Since this change, the term GMT isnt used much anymore, except by those living in the UK and its Commonwealth countries where its used to describe the local time during the winter months. (Its analogous to our Standard Time here in the United States.) UTC Time: Definition Coordinated Universal Time is a modern version of Greenwich Mean Time. As mentioned above, the phrase, which refers to GMT as counted from midnight, was coined in the 1930s. Other than this, one of the biggest differences between GMT and UTC is that UTC does not observe Daylight Saving Time. Backward Abbreviation. Ever wonder why the acronym for Coordinated Universal Time isnt CUT? Basically, UTC is a compromise between the English (Coordinated Universal Time) and French phrases (Temps Universel Coordonnà ©). the use the same official abbreviation in all languages.   Another name for UTC Time is Zulu or Z Time. Zulu Time: Definition Zulu, or Z Time is UTC Time, only by a different name. To understand where the z comes from, consider the worlds time zones. YEach is expressed as a certain number of hours ahead of UTC or behind UTC? (For example, UTC -5 is Eastern Standard Time.) The letter z refers to the Greenwich time zone, which is zero hours (UTC 0). Since the NATO phonetic alphabet (Alpha for A, Bravo for B, Charlie for C...) word for z is Zulu, we also call it Zulu Time.

Leadership is simply about 'getting the job done'. Discuss in relation Essay

Leadership is simply about 'getting the job done'. Discuss in relation to concepts and conflicts - Essay Example On average, a manager’s job would be to administer things as per the managerial continuity and integrity. This paper will examine the existing theoretical concepts in relation to leadership. Also, conflicts might arise in the case all the theories are applied in one go. The paper would examine the possible conflicts too. Key Concepts Introduction: The following discussion would cover the key concepts in relation to management and how a job should be executed. It also focuses on management and corporate strategy in relation to leadership. Discussion: If a job is to be done, it is not likely that one does it single-handedly in today’s complex socio-psychological environment. He or she would need a team, hence the formation of workgroups. In a workgroup, the goals must be shared, group values must be specified, decision must be based on consensus and evaluation must be constantly done. Moreover, in order to get the job done, some other ethical values like mutual trust, ded icated participation and respect for each other must be ushered (McGregor, Bennis and Schein, 1966). In doing the job, the leader must understand the relationship between behaviour and performance among his or her subordinates. Reinforcement Theory explicates the concept as such that a rewarded behaviour is more likely to be repeated while a behaviour that is punished is less likely to be repeated. The concept of reward and punishment is necessary and thus simply getting the job done may be insufficient (Keller, 1969). Figure - 1 Goal setting is also important because neither the leader nor his or her subordinates are supposed to know what to do if no goal is set at all (Brenda Devis, 1988). Again, according to Adam’s Equity Theory, the extent of equity that an individual would observe in relation to a work situation would proportionally affect his or her job performance and satisfaction (Kinicki, 2009). However, management in the real world cannot be completely based on theo ries only. To get the job done, the leader must handle general management and show skills in operational systems. A manager uses management tools to manage people and resources, while the leader is supposed to use the same tools innovatively. This is beyond simply completing the job. The fundamental questions like â€Å"What is management?† and â€Å"What is business?† should be explored with support from practical experiences. Techniques and tools like networks of critical path, cash flow and inventory control add more dimensions to decision making (Payne, Chelsom and Reavill, 2004). In getting the job done, the leader must not remain in the constraints of that job only. He or she must understand business failure or success is primarily dependent on how diverse areas of function in management can be combined to deliver and produce value to the different stakeholders. Corporate strategy in the form of functional integration is imperative in orchestration with the compl ex and dynamic corporate environment (Johnson, Scholes and Whittington, 2005) Summary: The key concepts in relation to leadership and ‘getting the job done’ are discussed. Stress has been put on: 1. Workgroup functionality 2. Reinforcement Th