Laughing All the Way to the Bank Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Laughing All the Way to the Bank - Essay Example Consequently, one maybe compelled to advance his education by getting an MBA. However, the reality and frustration soon sets in when even after achieving higher credentials, no promotion is forthcoming. To this end, Adams came to the reality that it was not always guaranteed that the highly qualified and best suited candidate for a job gets a promotion. In addition, hard work done by one employee is normally accorded to another less deserving employee. Moreover, based on his comic strip on Dilbert, Adams present the view that only the ‘bright but clueless’ individuals are hired. Consequently, employees are promoted on the basis of low competence rather than merit. From Adam’s viewpoint, in addition to his economic degree, he had gone a step further to achieve an MBA. All of his extra effort was centered on the belief that he would achieve promotion. However, after realizing that no promotion was forthcoming, and a stagnated career, Scott Adams was compelled to qui t his job. It is quite evident that Scott Adams was frustrated with the corporate world. This was after realizing that job promotion and high academic qualifications are not always intrinsically linked. Consequently, Scott Adams opted to go fulltime into his entrepreneurial job as a cartoonist following its initial popularity and potential to flourish. What sources of information and expertise did Adams use in starting and developing his business? Did the start-up of the Dilbert cartoon follow the typical pattern of entrepreneurial start-ups? Why or why not? The concept of Scott Adams cartoon strip, ‘Dilbert’ was initially inspired through his personal experiences as an employee in the bank. To this end, Scott Adams cites that he used Dilbert to channel the frustration, absurdity and stress of working life that he experienced in the corporate world of America. In the onset of ‘Dilbert’s’ prominence, Scott Adams changed tact in the sourcing of informa tion for Dilbert’s development. To this end, Adams sought customer opinion by attaching his email address to every cartoon strip. The purpose for attaching his email address was to draw in suggestions and comments that would develop the Dilbert comic strip further. Consequently, Adams would receive between 350 and 800 feedback messages daily. The start up of Dilbert cartoon did not follow the typical pattern of entrepreneurial start ups. Foremost, Adams started off his cartoon strip while still working at Pacific Bell. To this end, his method off start up contravened the classical model norm that usually calls for total commitment and resource allocation for start up. Moreover, owing to the fact that Scott Adams started off his cartoon strip while still working, he incurred few risks. To this end, majority of classical entrepreneurial start ups involve the incurring a high extent of risk. For example, if the risk of failure in the enterprise comes to pass, the entrepreneur in most cases has no fallback plan. To this end, he/she risks not only losing investments made but also an optional resource pool. However, in Scott Adams case, if he failed in his cartoon strip, he had an immediate fallback plan within his job security. This is in recognition that Adams had not yet quite his job while starting up Dilbert. Adams claims that his success is due primarily to luck and persistence; do you agree or disagree? Do you think his advice is helpful to potential entrepreneurs? Why or why not? Based on Scott Adams view on

Harlem Renaissance Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Harlem Renaissance - Essay Example It brought to the forefront the cultural specifics of the black community in all possible spheres. In literature, Harlem Renaissance enriched poetry, fiction, drama and essay. In arts, the traditional and popular songs, dance forms and paintings exhibit a vibrancy characteristic of the Harlem spirit of the times. And politically, the founding of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and the United Negro Improvement Association (UNIA) has brought the revolutionary ideas of W.E.B Du Bois and Marcus Garvey to good effect, which eventually led to appropriate representations and fortifications of the black community. 4. ‘Renaissance’ can literally means a rebirth or reawakening. The term is usually used to encompass a period that shows a renewed interest in art, literature or music. The Italian Renaissance of the 14th Century that focused mainly on painting led to a flowering of all forms of arts, literature and cultural artifacts in all Europe that lasted till the 16thy Century. In Harlem Renaissance, the interest in black tradition and art forms were evident. Moreover, it was a period when an abundance of artistic and literary products took birth and were circulated. 5. Harlem Renaissance works carried the general theme of a dual identity – of being an American and a black a colored individual at the same time. They explore the African-American identity with a lot of enthusiasm and optimism, since the racial prejudices were ameliorated at the time due to various reasons. The fact that there was scope for black arts at the specific environment gave the players of the movement great confidence and a sense of significance. The characteristic feature of the Renaissance is that it relied on the African heritage and tradition as much as it proclaimed the contemporary African-American existence and its accommodative, liberal spirit. New art forms like the Jazz did break away from traditions

Ethics in the Classroom Essay Example for Free

Ethics in the Classroom Essay Assessments have been in existences for many years; however schools have implemented various technology programs due to changes which have occurred in the educational system. Technology has become an innovative way to document, record, and to expand student’s learning. Teachers have access to software and hardware which is used to teach students required information as well as prepare them for the world outside the confines of a classroom. This plan will explain how software is used to support assessment in the classroom, such as formative and summative assessment and how technology may be used to support these two assessments. The plan will take a glimpse into the pros and cons of using technology and the teachers’ use of technology in the classroom. Although this plan is not intended to be a required plan for any teacher, it offers a suggestive approach to the use of technology based assessment in the school system. Teachers use assessments throughout their teaching careers to help evaluate a student’s learning process. Assessments also help to gather information for others to view such as; information pertaining to the schools in their school district, the students serviced (demographics) and test results. In a recent article online, Formative and Summative Assessments in the Classroom, Ehringhaus Garrison state â€Å"Assessment is a huge topic that encompasses everything from statewide accountability tests to district benchmarks or interim test to everyday classroom tests† (2012, p2). The two types of assessments teachers used are formative and summative, which â€Å"being creative with formative and summative assessment can seem a daunting task, but technology can assist with this and give students accessible ways to widen both ideas about assessment and kinds of assessments that students took†(Senate Office on Assessment, 2012,p1). Formative assessment is used to gather information that can be used to improve the teaching and learning of students. The main difference amongst formative and summative assessment would be how the information would be used. â€Å"When it comes to improving instruction and learning, it’s not the quantity of the data that counts, but how information is used† (Harris, Lewis, Muoneke Times, 2010, p. 1). Although formative assessments can be done daily, weekly, or when needed, the information may be used to create a lesson plan which meets the needs of the students in his/her classroom. The summative assessments are done at the end of a course or semester; however they may contain other information such as age, race or gender and may cover general information taught over the course of a school year. The use of assessments in technology can also be challenging for some teachers and students. Therefore, educators should compare the pros and cons of using technology in the classroom and assessment of students. Technology has increased in the classroom, and with the change in technology there is a change in the way assessments are done. Usage of technology to help assess students can benefit in many ways, it can enhance the learning process of students by â€Å"help(ing) students visualize problems they may encounter and reach students with different learning styles, including visual, auditory, and experiential learners† (Teaching with Technology, 2012, pg. 3). On the other spectrum of technology it can be costly to school district depending if the schools request wired or wireless hardware. Regardless of the use of technology in the classroom or for assessments, teachers must assess their students to help understand and implement the needs of the students. Software to Support Assessment Assessments have been in existences for many years; however schools have implemented various technology programs due to changes which have occurred in the educational system. Technology has become an innovative way to document, record, and to expand student’s learning. Teachers have access to software and hardware which is used to teach students required information as well as prepare them for the world outside the confines of a classroom. This plan will explain how software is used to support assessment in the classroom, such as formative and summative assessment and how technology may be used to support these two assessments. The plan will take a glimpse into the pros and cons of using technology and the teachers’ use of technology in the classroom. Although this plan is not intended to be a required plan for any teacher, it offers a suggestive approach to the use of technology based assessment in the school system. Teachers use assessments throughout their eaching careers to help evaluate a student’s learning process. Assessments also help to gather information for others to view such as; information pertaining to the schools in their school district, the students serviced (demographics) and test results. In a recent article online, Formative and Summative Assessments in the Classroom, Ehringhaus Garrison state â€Å"Assessment is a huge topic that encompasses everything from statewide accountability tests to district benchmarks or interim test to everyday classroom tests† (2012, p2). The two types of assessments teachers used are formative and summative, which â€Å"being creative with formative and summative assessment can seem a daunting task, but technology can assist with this and give students accessible ways to widen both ideas about assessment and kinds of assessments that students took†(Senate Office on Assessment, 2012,p1). Formative assessment is used to gather information that can be used to improve the teaching and learning of students. The main difference amongst formative and summative assessment would be how the information would be used. â€Å"When it comes to improving instruction and learning, it’s not the quantity of the data that counts, but how information is used† (Harris, Lewis, Muoneke Times, 2010, p. 1). Although formative assessments can be done daily, weekly, or when needed, the information may be used to create a lesson plan which meets the needs of the students in his/her classroom. The summative assessments are done at the end of a course or semester; however they may contain other information such as age, race or gender and may cover general information taught over the course of a school year. The use of assessments in technology can also be challenging for some teachers and students. Therefore, educators should compare the pros and cons of using technology in the classroom and assessment of students. Technology has increased in the classroom, and with the change in technology there is a change in the way assessments are done. Usage of technology to help assess students can benefit in many ways, it can enhance the learning process of students by â€Å"help(ing) students visualize problems they may encounter and reach students with different learning styles, including visual, auditory, and experiential learners† (Teaching with Technology, 2012, pg. 3). On the other spectrum of technology it can be costly to school district depending if the schools request wired or wireless hardware. Regardless of the use of technology in the classroom or for assessments, teachers must assess their students to help understand and implement the needs of the students. To help facilitate the ongoing assessment of student’s learning; teachers may require students to do assignments outside of school. This could include visiting educational sites to help support the content taught in class. Teachers may also allow students to do presentations, such as writing papers, finding information on the web and also interactive sites. Also to help parents stay informed about their child’s learning process; parent sites are also available to view their student’s grades and testing scores. Assessments can help to oversee the progression of students, and incorporating the use of technology to help with assessment can help to relieve the stress of keeping up with many forms and paperwork, but over usage can become mundane for students. However, â€Å"as good as technology-based assessment and data systems might be, educators need support in learning how to use them. (U. S. Department of Education, 2012, p1). Information on proper use of technology should be administered to teachers before they can teach the information to their students. The introduction of hardware such as Promethean boards allows the professional development department to develop courses which have become a requirement of the teachers’ certification process. This ensures teachers have received instruction on how to implement te chnology in the classroom and the use of software to support assessment. Teachers should not rely solely on the use of technology as a form of assessment due to inaccuracy of data information. Sometimes human errors may cause problems with a students? grades or information. Over usage of technology can also obscure the information with students who may learn in a different manner. Technology can help assess students using formative and summative assessments, which can increase the learning process of students by continuing ongoing assessments to help facilitate the learning process.

Theories of Entrepreneurship

Theories of Entrepreneurship Jump to: Sociological Theories of Entrepreneurship Economic Theories of Entrepreneurship Cultural Theories of Entrepreneurship Psychological Theories of Entrepreneurship This essay aims at reviewing the development of the enterprise, entrepreneurs and entrepreneurship literature to date. Comments from various authors point to the fact that this area, both as an area of study and an area of research, is relatively new when compared with other fields of business such as economics and business management. There are however a multitude of theories that have been propounded to explain the developments in the area. These theories, their assumptions and pronouncements will be reviewed and critiqued in this essay. The concepts of enterprise, entrepreneurs and entrepreneurship will be discussed in the first section. The subsequent section shall review major or leading theories in the area and the third section shall look at the development of the event management industry, the relevance of entrepreneurship within the area of event management and the role entrepreneurship has played in the development of the industry. A supplement to this essay shall look at the skills an entrepreneur should possess from the perspective of different authors. A brief self assessment of my own skills will be made and indications of how I plan to develop these skills in the future will be highlighted. Enterprise Thefreedictionary.com defines an enterprise as an undertaking especially one of some scope and risk (www.thefreedictionary.com). Other online dictionaries on google.com use words and phrases like a bold, a difficult, a dangerous, an important, a business venture, a company, requiring courage, energy, dedication to describe what an enterprise actually is. Veblen (2005) in his book, the theory of business enterprise gives a more subtle description of what an enterprise really is (in the business sense). He notes that the motive of business (an enterprise) is pecuniary gain, the method is essentially purchase and sale †¦ the aim and usually the outcome is the accumulation of wealth (p. 16). This contention about the motive, the method, the aim and the outcome of an enterprise qualifies the former definition. The insight drawn from these phrases is that literally all establishments on the high streets today and all the ways in which people try to earn a living is one form of enterprise or another. It could range from big businesses such as public companies through partnerships to family businesses and sole proprietorships. The event management industry for example is composed of several event management enterprises. These are mainly partnerships and private limited companies formed and managed with the goal of turning a profit. Exam ples include OWL Event Management LTD and Innovative Event Management. These comprise organizations where individuals come together to provide a service to individuals and other businesses in return for a profit. Entrepreneurs Congruent with the definition of an enterprise, one can contend that an entrepreneur is that person who runs, manages or owns an enterprise. This statement however does not fully describe who an entrepreneur really is. Arthur and Sheffrin (2003) regard an entrepreneur as a person who possesses a new venture, a new enterprise or a new idea, assumes responsibility for the risks involved in running such a venture or enterprise or pursuing his idea and enjoys the benefits and outcomes from such activity. The recurrent theme in Arthur and Sheffrins view of an entrepreneur is new which in the literature refers to innovation. As the subsequent discussions will indicate, Innovation is a central theme that runs through the entrepreneurship literature and practice. There are other views on this issues which will be expounded on shortly. The act of being an entrepreneur is referred to as entrepreneurship. Both terms are therefore closely related and there is no marked distinction in the literat ure between them. The discussion on entrepreneurs will therefore be culminated with entrepreneurship for simplicity and clarity. Entrepreneurship Baron and Shane (2008) contend that there is no single agreed definition of entrepreneurship either as an activity or a field of study. They acknowledged that the definition of entrepreneurship introduced by Shane and Venkataraman (2000) is one with high popularity. Shane and Venkataraman (2000) define entrepreneurship as a field of business aimed at understanding how opportunities for innovation in terms of new products, services, markets, production process, raw materials, ways of organizing existing technologies, arise and are discovered (or in fact created) by individuals (entrepreneurs), who develop and exploit these opportunities through different ways to produce a wide range of effects (Baron and Shane, 2008). Baron and Shane, (2008) support this definition by emphasizing that entrepreneurship involves identifying an opportunity that is potentially valuable in the sense that it can be exploited in practical business terms and yield sustainable profits†¦ and actually exploiting or developing this opportunity (p. 5). They extend this definition by emphasizing the need to be able to run the resulting business successfully after the opportunity is developed. Early entrepreneurs in the event management industry recognized the need for a service- event management. The history of humankind is marked with celebrations-man is a social being. People always come together, mainly temporary, to achieve certain goals under a time limit. This raised the need for effectiveness in these meetings which today is ensured by the event management industry. The growth in entrepreneurship Baron and Shane (2008) present startling statistics revealing that over a million new businesses were started in the US over a 10 year period with over 10 million people being registered as self employed. The growth in entrepreneurship has been attributed to three main factors. Baron and Shane (2008) argue that three factors have spurred growth in entrepreneurship through the 20th and 21st centuries. These include the media, fundamental changes in employment contracts and change in basic values (p.9). These conform to theories of social change discussed above. The media has put entrepreneurship in a positive light with many entrepreneurs such as Bill Gates, taking up role model positions in the world. In terms of the employment contract, the writers argue that workers are increasingly seeking for independence and freedom. Employers also employ strategies to hire and fire with ease in order to cut costs. This has made entrepreneurship a safety hob for most individuals. Theories on entrepreneurs and entrepreneurship Several theories and a continuum of approaches have been developed over the years to describe entrepreneurs and to explain the development of entrepreneurship. Deakins and Freel (2009) surmises major contributions and view points held in the area. Deakins and Feel (2009) contend that an entrepreneur has been considered as an innovator (Schumpeter), an organizer of factors of production and a catalyst for economic change (Say, Casson and Cantillon), a highly creative individual (Shackle). Ucbasaran et al (2001) reviews the development of entrepreneurship literature and contends that various themes or lines of enquiry can be identified in the building of entrepreneurship theory. These include: entrepreneurs personalities, backgrounds and early experiences; entrepreneurs traits; behavioral aspects of entrepreneurs; cognitive processes in decision making; and heuristics (Ucbasaran et al., 2001). Below, I review some of the early contributions in this area under four different umbrellas; sociological theories, economic theories, cultural theories and psychological theories. This classification is pervasive in the literature (Ucbasaran et al., 2001; Deakins and Freel, 2009, Mohanty, 2005). Sociological theories Several theories have been advanced to explain how social factors affect the growth of entrepreneurs. Two established theories have been recurrently discussed in the literature; the theory of religious beliefs and the theory of social change. These theories explain how sociological factors accelerate the growth of entrepreneurs (Mohanty, 2005). Theory of religious beliefs Max Webber was a famous sociologist and political economist of German origin. His writings in the early 20th century have tremendously influenced sociological, religious and political thinking today. His books have been recompiled and republished. In his book the theory of social and economic organizations edited by Parsons (1964) Webber asserts that entrepreneurship is a function of religious beliefs and the impact of religion shapes the entrepreneurial culture (p. 36). He argues that entrepreneurial energies are exogenous i.e. they are come from external factors, and are fuelled by religious aspects (p.37). Webber argues that the rise of capitalism in Northern Europe was due to the protestant theology which inspired many followers to engage in work, open up enterprises, accumulate wealth and make investments. This he calls the spirit of capitalism (Parsons, 1964). One factor spurring the creation of businesses in his theory is the inducement of profit, where people are motivated by the prospects of making a profit from their enterprise (Parsons, 1964). His theory proposed in a nutshell that, the Spirit of Capitalism arising from the protestant ethic therefore combines with the motive of profit resulting in the creation of many businesses. Needless to say, this theory has received heavy criticism over the years from contemporary researchers mostly based on the assumptions on which the theory was built (Karotayev et al., 2006). Karotayev eta l., 2006 for example noted that the promotion of literacy, education and learning by the protestant movement rather than the protestant ethic in itself resulted in the capitalism through the development of enterprises. Another yet related sociological theory of entrepreneurship was advanced by Everett E Hagen in his Theory of social change. He asserts that economic growth resulted from political and social change (Karotayev et al., 2006). His model shows that an entrepreneurs creativity was the main ingredient and driving force behind social transformation (change) and economic growth (Karotayev et al., 2006). Other social theories include theory of entrepreneurial supply advanced by Thomas Cochran and theory of group level pattern propounded by Frank Young (Mohanty, 2005). Economic theories Schumpeters Theory of innovation In his theory Schumpeter describes innovation as the central feature of economic development and an entrepreneur as the driver of change (Sweezy, 1943, Mohanty, 2005). He defines an entrepreneur as someone who perceives the opportunity to innovate by forming new enterprises (Sweezy, 1943, Mohanty, 2005). He views innovation as a form of creative destruction which is process of industrial mutation that incessantly revolutionizes the economic structure from within, incessantly destroying the old one, incessantly creating a new one (Sweezy, 1943, p. 95). The concept of creative destruction has been widely used in practice to refer to a situation where something new and more advanced replaces and destroys its predecessors. For example, Oil replacing Coal. The concept of innovation has been maintained as the core of entrepreneurship today. Innovation has been extended and expanded to include several aspects such as the introduction of new goods, the improvement of the quality of existing goods, the introduction of a new (cheaper, faster, more efficient) method of production, the discovery or opening of a new market, the discovery of a new source of raw material supply and/or the formation of a new organization (Burns, 2007, 2008, Gray, 1995, Lowe and Marriott, 2006). Schumpeterian theory of entrepreneurship furthered that big companies were mainly behind the drive of entrepreneurship as they had the resources and capital to engage in research and development activities (Sweezy, 1943). Schumpeter later complemented this position by contending that small companies were also drivers on entrepreneurship because their size allowed for flexibility and agility (Sweezy, 1943). The relationship between size, innovation and entrepreneurship has not seemingly been further established in the empirical literature. His position became controversial when he argued that both big and small companies are in the best position to innovate. This implies that size does not moderate innovation capacity. Some researchers criticize the stance of Schumpeter based on his assertion that individual business men as well as directors and company managers were all entrepreneurs. This stance undermines the role of risk, taking, creativity, idea generation, and innovativeness as an integral part of entrepreneurship (Baron and Shane, 2008, Shane and Venkataraman, 2000). Again, Schumpeter uses innovation as the foundation of his theory asserting that innovation was the main driver of entrepreneurship. This point is also subject to criticism as it uses innovation as a sole defining quality of an entrepreneur while undermining the role of risk taking, technical skills and organization abilities as key factors for entrepreneurship (Ward, 2005). Proponents of sociological and cultural theories of entrepreneurship will argue that this theory is limited in its view of the subject as it does not explain why entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial ability varies greatly across countries. Other economic theories of entrepreneurship include Knights theory of profit and Hayeks theory of market equilibrium (Mohanty, 2005). In the theory of profits, Knight views an entrepreneur as someone who takes risks and is exposed to uncertainty (Mohanty, 2005). FH Von Hayek in his theory of market equilibrium showed that market equilibrium is characterized by the absence of entrepreneurs. Though relevant these subsequent theories have not taken the pride of place in the literature. Cultural theories The basic tenet and argument put forward by cultural theorists is that entrepreneurship is a product of culture (Mohanty, 2005). Cultural theories of entrepreneurship explain the differences in entrepreneurial ability and spirit across different cultures. The major attraction of these theories is that they explain why some countries are underdeveloped while others develop and grow so rapidly. Other theorists mentioned above such as Schumpeter and Hagen have no explanation of this occurrence. Hoselitz theory of entrepreneurship supply Mohanty (2005) noted that Hoselitz theory posits that the supply of entrepreneurship is governed by cultural factors and culturally minority groups are the spark plugs of entrepreneurial and economic development (p. 49). This attempts to explain why certain socio-cultural groups have spurred development and small business growth in many countries; Mohanty (2005) quotes the examples of the Jews and the Greeks in Medieval Europe, the Indians in East Africa and the Chinese in South Africa. These culturally minority groups have been at the forefront of enterprise development, entrepreneurship and economic growth in these areas. Hoselitz was one of the earliest theories to contend that managerial skills as well as leadership abilities in addition to the drive to amass wealth were key to entrepreneurship (Mohanty, 2005). His theory is also in line with Max Webbers concepts of the protestant ethic and how it drives capitalism. This is through the realization that particular socio-cultural groups or classes foster economic growth through entrepreneurship. Hoselitz realizes the role of change as a stimulus for innovation in his Hypothesis of the marginal men (Mohanty, 2005). He posits that marginal men are best suited to make creative adjustments in times of economic change and through these adjustments are able to introduce better ways through genuine innovations in social behavior (Mohanty, 2005). The theory seemingly presents a holistic view of entrepreneurship by considering the influence of factors such as change, innovation, culture, social class, managerial as well as leadership skills, personal traits etc. Other cultural theories of entrepreneurship include Stokes theory of entrepreneurship (Mohanty, 2005). Psychological theories Psychological theories look at how the psychology of the society influences the supply of entrepreneurs (Mohanty, 2005). Although this strand of theories is not popular in the literature, it has received significant contributions from Schumpeter, Krunkel and Carland (Mohanty, 2005). Other theories One of the most esteemed management scholars of the last century was Peter Drucker. Incidentally, Drucker has contributed colossally to the development of the entrepreneurship theory and literature. He has written several papers over the years which have led to the advancement of knowledge in this area. Peter Drucker defined an entrepreneur as one who always searches for change, responds to it and exploits it as an opportunity (Deakins and Freel, 2009). His focus is on the attitude of an entrepreneur and how he views the world around him. Drucker notes that two factors lead to entrepreneurship; resource and innovation. He argues that innovation creates resource†¦ and resource is anything with an economic value (Mohanty, 2005; Deakins and Freel, 2009). The main contribution of Drucker is his view that an entrepreneur must not be the owner or creator but he who manages or executes is also an entrepreneur. His works point out aspects that can be considered as entrepreneurship which include; increasing customer satisfaction from a resource, increasing the perceived value of a resource, creating new value from an old product, converting a material into a resource, combining existing resources into a new and more productive configuration (Deakins and Freel, 2009). Drucker extends the view of entrepreneurship to non profit organization while emphasizing that the practice has a knowledge base, with concepts and theories and is not based on intuitions (Mohanty, 2005). Controversially, Drucker argues that entrepreneurship behavior rather than personality traits spurs and enhances entrepreneurship (Mohanty, 2005). Several writers in the area have argued against this point presenting empirical evidence to show that there is a high correlation between certain types of personality traits and entrepreneurship behavior (Ward, 2005). Druckers contributions still remain significant. Entrepreneurship as a process Baron and Shane, (2008) have extensively reviewed the literature on entrepreneurship building on early theories and propositions and have arrived at what they term the entrepreneurship process. This process involves a series of steps that a successful entrepreneur will take. Their model includes steps such as; Recognition of an opportunity, Deciding to proceed and assembling the essential resources, Launching a new venture, Building success and managing growth, Harvesting the rewards (Baron and Shane, 2008). The writers advocate a more holistic view of entrepreneurship from idea recognition through development. In their view, opportunities for innovation are external and they arise from three sources; Technological changes, political and regulatory change, social and demographic change (Baron and Shane, 2008). In conformance with the view of other writers such as Drucker, the researchers recognize various forms of innovation including; a new product or service, a new way of organizin g, a new market for existing products, a new method of production and a new raw material. This view is widely accepted and can be classed as contemporary as it is widely promoted in current entrepreneurship literature. Enterprise, Entrepreneurs and Entrepreneurship in the Events management industry (1000 words) Events management generally refers to managing event projects i.e. applying project management techniques to the management of events. Ramsbord et al., (2008) noted that event management involves several project management aspects such as brand analysis and consideration, analysis of event audience, creation of an event concept, planning and coordinating the event delivery. The authors also noted that other aspects such as event appraisal and event profitability are growing in significance as part of the event management concept. An event means several things to different people and variations will develop in terms of size of the event, the event audience, the significance of the event, the frequency of the event, the location of the event and the potential revenues to be generated from the event etc. In the context of event management however the word event takes a multitude of meanings. It includes corporate events such press conferences, other business conferences, corporate meetings (such Annual General Meetings), corporate anniversaries and product launches amongst others. It also includes corporate marketing programs such as opening of business sites and road shows. Events in this sense may also refer to corporate hospitality events such as award ceremonies, fashion shows, movie premieres, music concerts, music launches. It can refer to national events such as National days and sporting meets (Olympics, world cup, champions league games and English premier league games). Bowdin et al., 2006 reviewing se veral concepts of events resolved that an event is an organized occasion such as a meeting, convention, exhibition, special event, gala, dinner etc. which is composed of several yet different functions. They assert that it is temporary in nature, it is unique and it stems from management, program, setting and people (p. 14). Aspects involved in event management as noted by Bowdin et al., 2006 include venue surveys, site design, budget drafting, supply chain and logistics management, cash flow management, project scheduling, materials procurement, health and safety, technical aspects (sound, light, video), security and crowd management. As noted above, post-event appraisal and event profitability are increasing growing as a significant part of the event management discipline. This also constitute major concerns for entrepreneurs. The view of classical theorists such Webber and Schumpeter shows that profitability is that main push behind entrepreneurship. The business of event management is relatively new when compared to other businesses such as retail and transport. Recognition for the need for an event management service it self indicates entrepreneurship. Before too long along, event organizers had to manage the event without the need for any professional and experienced organizer. Today many organizations can outsource event management to professional organizations which have the skills, experience and resources to run such events. This has tremendously improved the success of events. Within the events industry several innovations have been made over time. Sign-Up Technologies, a small US firm has recently released its eticketing system which allows event promoters to sell tickets and collect customer information online. This eliminates the need for third party retailers who charge high commissions. It also expands the markets by allowing customers to easily access markets. The introduction of sophisticated video and sound technologies and new practices in stage design allows event managers to expand the capacity of events while ensuring that the customer experience and the quality of the event is not hampered. This helps to improve profitability. The use of new sophisticated surveillance and monitoring equipment has improved the cost incurred by event management companies. An Irish Event Management Company, EventSec LtD uses a mobile monitoring system that allows it to reduce manning at events (cutting costs) but improve security through effective and efficient monitoring. EventSec LTD has also found a new market for its product and has now worn a contract to engage in traffic management OWL Event management LTD current has gained fame in the events management industry through its use of contemporary technology in lighting, sound and video to improve the event experience of its customers. The firm also liaises actively with other firms to provide bespoke catering, security, cleaning and more services. This business model innovates by combining different resources in a configuration that serves a need. This comprehensive event management model improves the customer experience. OWL Event Management LTD also realized that exhibition stands where sometimes an important factor drawing potential customers towards exhibitionist. The design of exhibition stands has for a long time been taken for granted by firms. Most firms use stands that provide sitting space, a table and a shade. OWL Event Management has introduced its new range of stands which it provides to its customers. These stands are attention grabbing through their bespoke designs, their contemporary curves and th eir eye catching lighting. The firm argues that these stands keep visitors glued to exhibitionists thus facilitating the message delivery. The demand for these set up has helped the firm improve its profit position. SECTION B A reflection on my current entrepreneurial skills and  traits, and a discussion on how I plan to develop these in the future Entrepreneurial skills The literature and research in the area highlights several skills, traits, personalities and characteristics which should be possessed by successful entrepreneurs. One of the most holistic view of these has been provided by Ward (2005) in An integrated model for entrepreneurship and entrepreneurship. Ward (2005) asserts that entrepreneurs require a personality, technical skills and behavioral skills in order to be successful. The desired or winning personality traits according to his model include; Risk tolerance, Self confidence, Achievement oriented, Proactive, Innovative, vision, flexibility, high energy, uncertainty tolerance, Desire for autonomy, assertiveness, resilience, tenacity, self awareness, creativity, capacity to inspire and emotional stability. These personality traits help in the generation of winning ideas. These must be matched by technical skills and behavioral skills which will enable the entrepreneur to transfer these ideas to viable businesses through the establishment and management of the enterprise. As indicated by the model, the technical skills involved include; marketing, finance, business planning, strategic planning, human resource management, production management, legal issues, logistics management and quality management (Ward, 2005). The behaviora l skills involves include; communications, judgment, negotiation, creativity, decision making, delegation, customer-supplier relationship, motivation, problem solving and team working (Ward, 2005). The model indicates that all three types of skills are necessary for effective entrepreneurship. The model also shows that several external factors combine with these skills to determine the outcome of an entrepreneur. These external factors include, opportunities in the market place which may arise from uncertainty or changes (Ward, 2005). The model shows that the availability of resources in the external environment coupled with the entrepreneurs control over such resources moderates the outcome. Such resources include the other factors of production such as material, land, building (Ward, 2005). Self assessment; A reflection As an individual, I strongly believe that I am creative and innovative. I have always questioned the way things are done and thought of better ways of doing certain things. I adopt a proactive approach by thinking ahead. I am open-minded, flexible and always happy to embrace change. I am not dismayed by uncertainty but find uncertainty but find change and uncertainty as an opportunity to break the status-quo and enjoy new experiences. I will confidently say I fit Wards (2005) personality profile of an entrepreneur. With respect to technical skills, I have expounded my knowledge in several areas of business through my course learning and additional external reading. Despite my broad knowledge in the field of business, I am still unconfident about taking my ideas to the next level because I feel I lack the experience to by successful. I call this inertia. Most of my ideas only remain in my head. I am sometimes impressed with myself when my friends comment on how good my business ideas are. I however lack technical knowledge in legal issues and my knowledge on human resource management and logistics management needs to be improved. As concerns behavioral skills, I think I am a good communicator. This has helped my in my studies in building relationships with friends and creating alliances at work. I am good with team working and have been successfully involved in minor business negotiations. At certain times, I let my emotions get in the way of my negotiations and do end up regretting some of the decisions I make. I am working on being firm in my decision making and negotiations. I lack sufficient experience on certain areas such as delegation, motivation and problem solving. Plans for future development I plan to hone my entrepreneurial abilities by actually engaging in small scale ventures. I am currently setting up a small venture with a friend. The initial stages have involved drawing a business plan and meeting up with potential suppliers and customers. We have carried out market surveys and have taken a look at factors such as logistics, marketing, distribution and financial reporting. This experience has opened up my horizons and given me an insight of what entrepreneurship is all about. I also get very constructive feedback from my business partners. This helps me to amend and improve certain issues. Concurrent with the assertion of Ward (2005), external factors seem to play a huge role to the success of entrepreneurs. Some of the ideas, we have conceived cannot be implemented due to the lack of resources. Certainly, this current venture will not be my last or my best but it will allow me to develop my skills in the area. Aside from this, I also read books and listen to speeches from motivational writers and famous entrepreneurs. This inspires me to pursue my dreams as an entrepreneur.

Essays --

Though the definition of feasibility studies varies in every source, most of its defining characteristics can be found in Blanchard’s System Engineering and Analysis textbook [1]. The general goal of a feasibility study is to evaluate whether the proposed system concept is designed within the cost, schedule, and technical risk constraints that can work for the stakeholders needs. The feasibility study’s second function is to illustrate the possibility of acquiring potential solutions [2]. The third goal of feasibility is to draw out quantitative or semi-quantitative assessments, and finally, it identifies alternative technological approaches [1]. Feasibility studies may include exploration of alternative conceptual designs, operational functions, system components, and technology choices, in case the system’s components and concepts were indistinct; and its immediate consequences may include risk analysis of requirements [2]. The study is vital in the overall pro cess on team communication and initial evaluation should be done during the conceptual design process. Following the exampl...

Natural Gas as an Alternate Energy Source for Transportation :: Alternate Energy Sources

Natural Gas as an Alternate Energy Source for Transportation Petroleum, the oil that is refined to create gasoline and diesel, and that as of now is the main energy source powering transportation worldwide, releases too many pollutants into the air and is not very far away from becoming a depleted resource. As global warming becomes a larger threat, gas prices rise, and the air in cities around the world becomes increasingly polluted, it is becoming more apparent that an alternate, and cleaner, source of energy is needed for use in transportation. The best option for a replacement to petroleum is natural gas, also known as methane. Today, twenty-four percent of the total energy consumed in the United States is natural gas, which means a change is already in progress (though due to a lack of technology in natural gas recovery and stubbornness of consumers, it is happening slowly) [Pros and Cons]. However, the important question is, â€Å"why is natural gas so much better that petroleum?† To begin, natural gas is much better for the environment than petroleum. If natural gas vehicles (NGVs) were to become the norm, carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions could be alleviated by ninety percent and hydrocarbon emissions could be reduced by eighty-five percent [NaturalGas.org]. This is very important, because it is the elevated levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere that are responsible for the large increase in the greenhouse effect, which is thought to be causing global warming. In addition, natural gas produces only ninety-two pounds of nitrogen oxides (NO2) and one pound of sulfur dioxide (SO2) per billion Btu of energy, as opposed to petroleum’s 448 and 1,122 pounds, respectively [NaturalGas.org]. The significance of these figures lies in the fact that it is nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxides that cause acid rain [Pros and Cons]. However, converting to natural gas would help more than just the environment. From an economic viewpoint, the widespread use of natural gas for transportation purposes as opposed to petroleum in the United States would not only relieve American reliance on foreign oil, but would also help the economy. This is because eighty-seven percent of natural gas consumed in the United States is â€Å"domestically† produced, which means it is produced in America [NGVC]. Therefore, using natural gas instead of petroleum as an energy source for transportation would help the environment and the American economy. Natural Gas as an Alternate Energy Source for Transportation :: Alternate Energy Sources Natural Gas as an Alternate Energy Source for Transportation Petroleum, the oil that is refined to create gasoline and diesel, and that as of now is the main energy source powering transportation worldwide, releases too many pollutants into the air and is not very far away from becoming a depleted resource. As global warming becomes a larger threat, gas prices rise, and the air in cities around the world becomes increasingly polluted, it is becoming more apparent that an alternate, and cleaner, source of energy is needed for use in transportation. The best option for a replacement to petroleum is natural gas, also known as methane. Today, twenty-four percent of the total energy consumed in the United States is natural gas, which means a change is already in progress (though due to a lack of technology in natural gas recovery and stubbornness of consumers, it is happening slowly) [Pros and Cons]. However, the important question is, â€Å"why is natural gas so much better that petroleum?† To begin, natural gas is much better for the environment than petroleum. If natural gas vehicles (NGVs) were to become the norm, carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions could be alleviated by ninety percent and hydrocarbon emissions could be reduced by eighty-five percent [NaturalGas.org]. This is very important, because it is the elevated levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere that are responsible for the large increase in the greenhouse effect, which is thought to be causing global warming. In addition, natural gas produces only ninety-two pounds of nitrogen oxides (NO2) and one pound of sulfur dioxide (SO2) per billion Btu of energy, as opposed to petroleum’s 448 and 1,122 pounds, respectively [NaturalGas.org]. The significance of these figures lies in the fact that it is nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxides that cause acid rain [Pros and Cons]. However, converting to natural gas would help more than just the environment. From an economic viewpoint, the widespread use of natural gas for transportation purposes as opposed to petroleum in the United States would not only relieve American reliance on foreign oil, but would also help the economy. This is because eighty-seven percent of natural gas consumed in the United States is â€Å"domestically† produced, which means it is produced in America [NGVC]. Therefore, using natural gas instead of petroleum as an energy source for transportation would help the environment and the American economy.

High School Speech Materialism and Money

We Have become largely materialistic as a society. Nowadays the size of your income is the point that defines you and happiness is the latest Ipod. Now just take a moment to consider. What was it that made you happy as a toddler? Was it that you had the latest Pumpkin patch fashions? Or perhaps it was that your parent’s earnt more than your best friends parents? No it was simply the love and affection of your parents, a sense of achievement when you achieved something and the companionship of people your own age. You see, I think those toddlers are onto a good thing. I believe that we as the young people of New Zealand place far to much emphasis on the importance of money. If you think about it, all that money causes is bad things; Debt, relationship problems, and inter-class prejudice. Money has such a strong influence over our lives, so much so that it often causes relationship problems. Many couples have put relationship problems down to financial problems. Debt and lack of income place major financial stresses on people. As a result their relationships with friends and sexual partners suffer. This can often lead to domestic violence, alcoholism and abuse. Recently a survey was conducted by a New Zealand relationship service. This survey revealed that 41% of couples experiencing relationship problems blamed their financial issues. A representative from the National relationship service declared that the groups of people most susceptible to domestic violence were young couples experiencing relationship troubles. We’ve all seen the massive controversy in the media about Slumdog millionaire Actress, Rubina Ali’s father tries to sell her. If money were such a brilliant thing why it was the very reason for a father trying to sell his daughter? His very own flesh and blood? Breaking up a whole family. I believe that if we were to place less importance on money then many relationships would benefit greatly. Debt is a major intrusion into people’s everyday lives. Debt is becoming a far more predominant issue. This is because a lot of the younger generations are un educated about the consequences of using credit and eftpos cards. They are also unaware of how to keep their accounts under control. Debt has become more of an issue in recent years with the introduction of electronic devices. Credit cards now allow people to spend heir money in advance meanwhile they are charged large amounts of interest. Because they are unable to physically ‘spend their money people are often fooled into spending large amounts of money. This is essentially a loan. The credit companies then charge the customer high interest rates and by the time the customer pays-off this debt they have paid almost twice the amount for an item in orde r to use their money in advance. The amount of debt an average New Zealander racks up is increasing. Take for example, a survey carried out by the Reserve bank of New Zealand in 2001. This survey stated that the average amount of debt as a New Zealander had increased by 10% over the ten year period since 1991 This is a leading cause for depression and mental illness. I believe that if proper education about money was given and the use of technology with money was reduced then money would become less of an intrusion into our everyday lives. Money encourages discrimination and prejudice. Society is quite distinctly split into different ‘classes’. These ‘classes’ are majorly influenced by, Yes you guessed it, Money. Why should someone be any less of a person just because they have a smaller income than the next person? The universal declaration of human rights declares that each person is entitled to certain things. Sadly are unable to access such things as they have a small income. Many low income families find that they are frowned upon by the ‘Upper classes’. One such person, a student, was mocked and taunted by her peers as her family had to carry out a ‘paper run’ to help sustain their family. As ashamed as I am to say it I stood back and watched while such blatant discrimination was taking place right in front of me. This is just one example of inner-class prejudice. The government also shows prejudice towards different classes by providing subsidies for health care and other services. Families qualify for these benefits by being under a certain income. Often families with incomes just slightly above the qualification standard often struggle to pay for such services but receive no subsidy. To qualify for a community services card a family must have a combined income of less than seventy thousand dollars per annum. A family earning seventy two thousand dollars per annum had a child that became critically ill. Because their income was two thousand dollars higher than the requirement this family received no financial help from the government and as a result they are now in major debt. I believe that inter class prejudice would become less of an issue and the lifestyle of many people would improve if less emphasis were put on money. So as the young people of New Zealand we need to take a stand and make a difference! Lets stop our consumer society form being consumed! We need to realize how the influence of money affects our relationships, emotions and attitudes towards others.