The Columbus conundrum Essay Example For Students

The Columbus conundrum Essay The line between sea and sky is erased in the blinding white light of the Gulf of Cadiz. Five hundred years ago Christopher Columbus gazed across these horizonless waters, plotting his voyage to the Canary Islands and then west, on to the fabled golden citadels of Asia or so he believed. When he finally set sail on Aug. 3, 1492, with only his own doggedness and a set of dublous maps to guide him, he inadvertently propelled all of modem humanity onto a journey without end. It began as a Spanish quest for the riches of the Orient, evolved into a colonist bid for territory, gave birth to a Native American struggle for freedom, and continues today as a collective search for identity on the part of all three Americas, North, South and Central. We will write a custom essay on The Columbus conundrum specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now The Columbus story is one of conquest, obsession and hubris. For better or worse, it is our story as a people, and so we are forever obliged to tell it, retell it, question it, read between its lines. Today a new generation of artists and writers are meeting that obligation with a profusion of books, movies, plays operas and artwork a virtual industry of ideas inspired by one medieval sailor, his surly crew and three rickety ships. Nowhere is the sprawl of the Columbus myth more evident than on North Americas stages. This past summer, while Philip Glass and David Henry Hwang were preparing a Columbus epic for an October opening at New Yorks Metropolitan Opera, New York Citys Theatreworks USA was on the road, taking its micro-musical version of the saga to school children along the Atlantic seaboard. The Pilgrim Theatre was drawing small but enthusiastic audiences to a sweltering black box in Boston for the premiere of a performance piece called Columbus, Dreams of a New World, and the Bread and Puppet Theater was enlisting community participants for an outdoor Columbian pageant on a Burlington, Vermont lawn. In July, playwright Richard Nelson made his Barbican Theatre mainstage debut at Londons Royal Shakespeare Company with Columbus and the Discovery of Japan, while the Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park was still basking in the glow of its January premiere of Canadian Richard Epps Japango. Of all these plays, Theatreworks USAS Columbus took the most straightforward historical approach. In the tried-and-true tradition of childrens theatre, its aim was to educate and entertain, and by the looks of its attentive, five-foot-and under audience at the Paramount Center for the Arts on a dreary April day in Peekskill, N.Y., it achieved both objectives. Written and directed by Jonathan Bolt, with music by Douglas J. Cohen and lyrics by Thomas Toce, Columbus follows the mariners exploits from his youth to his fourth and final voyage to the Americas. Five actor-singers carry multiple roles, and a simple collection of planks and ropes is manipulated to suggest every setting from the desk of the Santa Maria to Queen Isabellas chamber. The familiar story is all here-Columbuss relentless petitioning for funds and Isabellas eventual capitulations; the long first voyage and the sailors near-mutiny but with a few revisionist twists. First were told that Columbus was not the only man of his day to believe the world was round (indeed any educated Spaniard knew this to be true). Were also informed that he found the Bahamas, which he thought to be Asia, largely by luck. Finally were witness to his disastrous handling of the colonies, which led to the deaths of many of his crew members and countless Native Americans, and the eventual collapse of his own career. Still, we last see Columbus embarking triumphantly on his final voyage to the New World, even through we know from the history books that he spent his declining years landlocked and out-of-favor with the Spanish monarchs. There is a tension here between the story the play purports to tell the true-to-life history of Christopher Columbus and the follow your dream subtext common to much childrens theatre. Arguably, neither the explorers dreams (of wealth and prestige) nor his character were worthy of much admiration. Yet that fact constantly rubs up against the musicals celebratory songs and its youcan-do-anything-if-you-just-believe dialogue, creating an unsettling sense of internal conflict. Its as if the play wants a hero, and at those times when Columbus obviously wont do, Isabella steps into the role (as when she orders the mariner to stop taking slaves). But the Queen was no saint herself. Truth be told, this is a story without heroes, and as such its tough to adapt for childre n. One way to avoid such difficulties is to cast the Columbus tale not as an historical narrative, but as a portrait of a personality. Focusing on character rather than event allows writers to sidestep sticky political issues and simultaneously satisfy the publics seemingly insatiable appetite for psychological drama. Richard Epps Japango takes this tack, presenting the explorer as a man awash in memories of his past triumphs. Presented by the Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, the play was billed as a voyage to discovery to find Christopher Columbus himself. Epp told the Cincinnati Post, I was struck by the stubbornness of the man and his denial until the day he died that he had been anywhere but Asia. I found him arrogant, greedy, but at the same time a buoyant human being. Playwright Richard Nelson, likewise, describes his Columbus and the Discovery of Japan as a portrait of an artist of the explorer as artist. His aim was to sift through the historical representations of his subject and present him neither as a Hitler nor a hero. He explains, The Columbus we grew up with was an invention of the late 18th and early 19th centuries. He was the product of a hemisphere that needed to define itself in opposition to the Old World. In that sense he was an ideological creation. .u99184f4ad836f6bf6823d5fcd4f2b4ef , .u99184f4ad836f6bf6823d5fcd4f2b4ef .postImageUrl , .u99184f4ad836f6bf6823d5fcd4f2b4ef .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u99184f4ad836f6bf6823d5fcd4f2b4ef , .u99184f4ad836f6bf6823d5fcd4f2b4ef:hover , .u99184f4ad836f6bf6823d5fcd4f2b4ef:visited , .u99184f4ad836f6bf6823d5fcd4f2b4ef:active { border:0!important; } .u99184f4ad836f6bf6823d5fcd4f2b4ef .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u99184f4ad836f6bf6823d5fcd4f2b4ef { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u99184f4ad836f6bf6823d5fcd4f2b4ef:active , .u99184f4ad836f6bf6823d5fcd4f2b4ef:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u99184f4ad836f6bf6823d5fcd4f2b4ef .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u99184f4ad836f6bf6823d5fcd4f2b4ef .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u99184f4ad836f6bf6823d5fcd4f2b4ef .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u99184f4ad836f6bf6823d5fcd4f2b4ef .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u99184f4ad836f6bf6823d5fcd4f2b4ef:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u99184f4ad836f6bf6823d5fcd4f2b4ef .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u99184f4ad836f6bf6823d5fcd4f2b4ef .u99184f4ad836f6bf6823d5fcd4f2b4ef-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u99184f4ad836f6bf6823d5fcd4f2b4ef:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: The Terrible Fate Of Humpty Dumpty and Blue Remembered Hills EssayThe Columbus of today the liar, pillager and murderer of revisionist histories also an ideological creation. My play does not participate in the struggle between these competing ideologies. The tale I have to tell is about someone doing something against great odds. Its about a man with an urge, a drive that even he himself doesnt understand. Director John Caird oversaw the lavish staging of Columbus and the Discovery of Japan, re-creating 15th-century Spain with lots of the usual RSC dry ice, according to one witness. Nelson reports that the production polarized Londons critical community: Ive never faced such angry reviews, but on the other hand the critics who were supportive loved it. Its a huge story its running time was an epic three-and-a-half hours and you cant expect everyones going to feel the same way about it. The widespread fascination with Columbuss character is a curious phenomenon, because in the last analysis it matters very little who the man was or what he was like. He may be condemned as a murderer, or defended as a product of his time both assessments are accurate, and both equally inconsequential. If Columbuss mission had not succeeded, indeed if he had never been born, someone else would have presented himself to take his place. The blinding white light of the Atlantic would have still been pierced; the inevitable process of colonization and resistance would have still been put into play. History was on the brink; it was just a matter of time. Bostons Pilgrim Theatre and Vermonts Bread and Puppet both leave questions of character behind in their politically charged versions of the story. Pilgrims Columbus, Dreams of a New World, conceived and directed by Kermit Dunkelberg, the troupes managing director, announces itself boldly as a tale not about a sailor but about the collision of two world and the aftershocks we still feel. It takes the shape of a choreopoem, a collage of solo and group recitations and songs that comment on the Babel that Columbus established in the New World. The piece looks somewhat dated-its 10 barefoot, loosely clothed performers recall the Judson Poets Theatre dancers of the early 60s but its concerns are up-to-the-minute. Even more outspoken is Bread and Puppets two-part touring production of Christopher Columbus: The New World Order, under the direction of Peter Schumann. Part one, performed in a theatre with puppets and an oom-pah-pah band, reenacts Columbuss arrival in America and his establishment of peace Or at least that particular peace of subjugation and outright genocide that accompanies the occupation of new lands, as an acid program note instructs. Part two travels outside to a field where, with the help of community participants, the Columbus myth is presented as a metaphor for one of northern New Englands hottest issues: the conquest of the northern Quebec wilderness by the Hydro-Quebec power company. Bread and Puppets familiar fat-headed masks and glant winged puppets do much to soften the stridency of its message: Kids love the show as much as left-wing adults. But theres no confusion as to where the troupes sentiments lie. At the close of part one, a hand-painted banner is unfurled on stage decrying the legacy of Columbus in America: Aggression is fine if it is in your favor, it reads. International law and economic justice are foreign to you. You are a warfare state, an intervention state, a security state. Columbus-bashing is nothing new. According to Richard White, McClelland professor of history at the University of Washington, the explorers 1892 anniversary party was disrupted by a band of revisionists just as vocal as any today. A writer for the Dial called the navigators last three voyages a pitiful record of misfortunes, blunders, cruelties, moral delinquencies, quarrels and impotent complainings. And the Magazine of American History declared Columbuss name polluted by the blood of innocent creatures, his legacy, a satumalia of slaughter. In this century, anti-columbus sentiment has reached a fever pitch. A Native-American coalition called 1992 Alliance has declared this The Year of the Indigenous People, offering an alternative celebration of the federally sanctioned Christopher Columbus Quincentenary Jubilee. The Jubilee itself has been carefully billed as a commemoration of the encounter between Europe and the Americas, rather than a celebration of Columbuss discovery. Headlines in local and national publications run the gamut from Columbus, Stay Home! (Newsweek) to Columbus: Scum of the Ocean (the Seattle Weekly). Columbus the rugged individualist has been supplanted in the nations eye by Columbus the megalomaniac, the slaver, the torturer, the carrier of disease, the waster of lands. I think its simplistic to idolize Columbus as a hero, but also simplistic to look at him as someone who brought only rape and ruin and genocide, says David Henry Hwang, librettist of the new Philip Glass opera The Voyage, which will set sail on Columbus Day at the New York Metropolitan Opera. The interplay between individuals and history is very complex. Individuals make decisions for personal reasons, but they end up having political implications that reach far beyond the initial impulse. This train of thought inspired Hwang and Glass to blend biography and history with fantasy to create an epic tale about the notion of exploration in general. Each of the operas three acts is set in a different period pre history, 15th-century America and the future and each deals with the theme of cultural collision. For instance, in Act l, Hwang says, theres a scene in which aliens land on earth. We follow the landing from the alien commanders point of view up until the moment she disembarks from her ship. Then we switch to the natives point of view; suddenly everything the commander says is gibberish. That switch is a quintessential moment in this opera. The question this piece asks is, What happens when different cultures come together?' Or, in the pertinent words of Rodney King, Can we all get along? This is perhaps the most critical question facing Columbuss New World as it enters its sixth century. .u35287d5620c1e7978b7228cb7f9d2343 , .u35287d5620c1e7978b7228cb7f9d2343 .postImageUrl , .u35287d5620c1e7978b7228cb7f9d2343 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u35287d5620c1e7978b7228cb7f9d2343 , .u35287d5620c1e7978b7228cb7f9d2343:hover , .u35287d5620c1e7978b7228cb7f9d2343:visited , .u35287d5620c1e7978b7228cb7f9d2343:active { border:0!important; } .u35287d5620c1e7978b7228cb7f9d2343 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u35287d5620c1e7978b7228cb7f9d2343 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u35287d5620c1e7978b7228cb7f9d2343:active , .u35287d5620c1e7978b7228cb7f9d2343:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u35287d5620c1e7978b7228cb7f9d2343 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u35287d5620c1e7978b7228cb7f9d2343 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u35287d5620c1e7978b7228cb7f9d2343 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u35287d5620c1e7978b7228cb7f9d2343 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u35287d5620c1e7978b7228cb7f9d2343:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u35287d5620c1e7978b7228cb7f9d2343 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u35287d5620c1e7978b7228cb7f9d2343 .u35287d5620c1e7978b7228cb7f9d2343-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u35287d5620c1e7978b7228cb7f9d2343:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Diamanda Galas: in the rough EssayAn ocean of hype surrounds the quincentenary, to be sure, but the publics intense interest in Columbus and his significance is more than just a passing fancy. It is indicative of a radical shift in our perception of the American enterprise. As we enter the turbulent seas of the 21st century, it becomes more and more obvious that the notion of exploration in general is as critical to our future as it was to our past. Specifically, we must take our historical urge to explore and turn it inward, toward ourselves, to find a way to cross the vast divides that separate Americas many peoples. The waters are wide, the horizon out of sight, but com mon ground is out there somewhere, waiting to be discovered. AT COLUMBUS IN TUE MOVIES Sailing, sailing over the silver screen. Its high drama on the high seas this fall as two blockbuster film versions of Columbuss historic passage go head-to-head in the nations movie theatres. Warner Brotherss Christopher Columbus: The Discovery was released in September, barely nosing out Paramounts 1492, due this month. In terms of box-office draw, Paramounts leading man-french mega-star Gerard Depardieu-has it all over Warner Brotherss, a relative unknown named George Corraface. But Warner generated a lot of advance publicity through sheer bungling. Christopher Columbus: The Discovery ran through three directors, two leading men and two screenwriters before its final take, and reportedly accumulated a pile of unpaid bills in the process. The films notoriety was secured by the pre-release paratheatrics of supporting actor Marlon Brando: He requested that his name be removed from the credits due to its depiction of Native Americans. Co-producer Alexander Salkind remains upbeat about his troubled films prospects, however. As he told the New York Times, They have a geographic picture, a serious picture about the life of the man, and we have an adventure No politics. A kind of Robin Hood. A picture for families, for children. Everything up, up at the end. AND IN TUE STAGE It was mid-1991, and the official Christopher Columbus Quincentenary Jubilee Commission had ran aground. Its coffers were bare, its chairman had resigned and a U.S. House of Representatives subcommittee had been formed to investigate charges of mismanagement. The fate of the long-awaited Big Bash was cast into doubt. Would the quincentenary sink before it ever even set sail? Not a chance. A veritable armada of Columbus-related events had already been launched in communities, school and cultural institutions nationwide, and this fleet was not about to turn back just because the ship of state couldnt get its act together. Not to be upstaged, theatre artists had planned a small flotilla of events aU their own. What follows is a partial list of Columbus-related plays that have been or will be presented on Americas stages in 1992. This list includes plays only. operas, ballets, puppet shows, lectures, TV shows, movies, exhibits, regattas, horse shows, Bocce tournaments and commemorative wine stomps have regretfully been omitted: * Stage One: The Louisviue Childrens Theatre has commissioned a new play by Laura Amy Schlitz entitled Foreigners: A Play of Christoforo Colombo. Artistic director Moses Goldberg, who will stage its Oct. 10 premiere, calls the drama hard-hitting and balanced. * Encounter 500, a new musical by Mario Fratti and composed by Giuseppe Murolo, is currently touting Italy en route to its November opening on Broadway. It is billed as a tribute to the rich customs and civilization of the Native American culture. 3- Six dramatic variations on the theme of The Discovery of the Americas have been commissioned by a coalition of International festivals, including the Festival International de Teatro de Carcaras (Venezuela), the Festival Iberoamericano de Bogota (Colombia), the Gran Festival Ciudad de Mexico, the Festival Internacional de San Jose por la Paz (Costa Rica), the Festival Iberoamericano de Cadiz (Spain) and the Festival de Theatre des Ameriques (Qudbec). The scripts, written by playwrights from North and South America and Spain, were given their first readings in Montreal in May and June. * Last month, the Perfomance Network of Ann Arbor, Mich. presented Dario Fos rarely seen Isabella, Three Ships and a Shyster, directed by Martin Walsh. This 1963 satirical play-within-a-play skewers both Columbus and the monarchs who sponsored his notorious voyage. * Baltimores Impossible Industrial Action produced a multimedia anti-tribute to the explorer in January. Columbus, a ghost story blended images from grade-school Columbus Day pageants and the Gulf War, and portrayed the anti-hero himself as a ventdloquists dummy. * Gala Hispanic Theatre of Washington, D.C. commemorated the expedition with a Spanish play about one of his greatest detractors: Bartolome de las Casas, a 16th-century friar who recorded the atrocities wrought by the Spanish colonists in his Brief History of the Destruction of the Indies (1540). Jaime Saloms Las Cosas: Una Hoguera al Amanecer (Bonfire at Dawn) was presented (in Spanish) in February and March. * Last Spring, hoping to snare young audiences, Lancaster, Pa.s Fulton Opera House presented a play about Columbuss son. Barry Kornhausers Another Columbus is a fictionalized account of the early life of Diego Columbus, who worked as a page in the Spanish royal court. * Minneapoliss Mixed Blood Theatre Company presents its counter-quincentenary offering Sink the Ships through Oct. 9. * Also in Minneapolis, the Walker Art Center wfll be the site of Guillermo Gomez- Pena and Coco Fuscos The New World Border on Columbus Day. The multilingual piece, presented in conjunction with the Art Centers Viewpoint exhibition The Year of the White Bear, explores recent changes in world topography and how those changes affect peoples sense of identity in the United States. * INTAR Hispanic American Arts Center of New York and Womens Project and Productions premiere Maria Irene Fornes and Roberto Sierras Terra Incognita, an ambitious interdiscipunary reflection on Columbuss Idiscovery of America, performed in English at INTAR on May 12- June 13.

The Sun and The Daily Telegraph Essay Example

The Sun and The Daily Telegraph Essay Example The Sun and The Daily Telegraph Essay The Sun and The Daily Telegraph Essay Comparison of newspaper reports in The Sun and The Daily Telegraph Monday, January 12th Covering Robert Kilroy-Silks Suspension by the BBC I am going to compare two newspaper articles about Robert Kilroy-Silk controversial suspension by the BBC. The Daily Telegraph and The Sun articles have many major differences but some minor similarities. The articles in the Telegraph is situated on page 2; this is because it is a quite important article for broadsheets newspapers, but not important enough to be on the front page.However, in The Sun the article is situated on page 22 as the reporter obviously considered the article to be that important as the articles that are more sensational are nearer the front. There is an attractive photograph of Mr Kilroy-Silk printed in the centre of The Sun article. This attracts readers to the article, as it looks more appealing to read. However, there isnt a caption with this photograph as there is no need as it is just showing who Robert Kilroy-Silk is.The Daily Telegraph havent used any photographs or illustrations in this article as a photograph is not needed to back-up what is said in the article. The headline of The Sun article is in bold print, capital letters and is quite large. But The Daily Telegraph has used lower case lettering and the headline is fairly small, but there is some alliteration used. The subtitle in The Sun is still in bold print but the reporter has used lower case lettering instead. The Sun has also used another sub-heading: Martyr which is underlined.It shows that the reporter has highlighted on it. The Daily Telegraph has no need to use a sub-heading as the explained everything in the headline, hence it being quite long. The size of the print front is similar in both articles but The Daily Telegraphs is slightly larger, but The Suns print font is more spaced out. The length of The Sun article is fairly short and is broken down into sections to make it more accessible to the reader. However, The Daily Telegraph article is quite lengthy and isnt broken down into sections so it is a more of a daunting prospect for readers.The reporter of The Sun is quite biased as they are defending Mr Kilroy-Silk by giving him sympathy by telling the public that he attended the funeral of his mother Rose last week. This information was completely irrelevant to the rest of the article. The reporter is persuading the public that MR Kilroy-Silk is innocent by defending him, and not presenting peoples views that he is racist. The reporter also allows Mr Kilroy-Silk to defend himself in this article. However, the Daily Telegraph isnt bias in anyway.The reporter just explains what is going on, and isnt against or for Mr Kilroy-Silk. The language the reporter has used in The Sun article is jargon and informal and the reporter uses words like beeb instead of BBC and 24-Carat which mean it is 100% of something. In The Daily Telegraph the reporter has written the article very formally and it is quite hard for young people to understand. When a quote is used in The Sun article italics or speech marks are used to help it stand out.There are quite a lot of quotes for Mr Kilroy-Silk to help defend himself to show he hasnt done anything wrong. But in The Daily Telegraph they have only used speech marks around the quotes, just to show it was something that was actually said. The quotes the reporter used in this article were mainly ones where Mr Kilroy-Silk was arguing about the BBC. Both of the newspaper articles about Robert Kilroy-Silks controversial suspension by the BBC are mainly very different in the way they are written and laid out.However I do consider that The Daily Telegraph article is more reliable on this item of news. I think this is because the reporter tells you the whole story from different sides. But The Sun article only tells you the main information and the reporter included other information to try to make it more interesting for the readers. So if you want to find out about a particular newspaper article, it is best to read a broadsheet newspaper as they are more reliable then a tabloid newspaper.

Data collection methods Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Data collection methods - Assignment Example The authors prescribed and used a three group repeated measure design. The study was done on groups of consenting patients receiving home care from a non profit hospice. The care givers chosen were subjected to experimental training in the COPE (acronym creativity, optimism, planning, and expert information) intervention, on symptoms management. Instruments used were the numeric rating scale. NRS was used to measure the intensity of pain with zero representing no pain gradually increasing to ten that represents the worst or most intense pain. The dyspnea intensity scale was used to rate the intensity of dyspnea on a (0-10) scale. The constipation assessment scale, which is an eight item, three point that is - patients describe their states no problem, some problem and severer problem, summated rating scale whose function is to detect the presence of constipation and subsequently measure its intensity. The memorial symptom assessment scale (MSAS) that measures the distress caused by a symptom. The last instrument is the Hospice Index Quality-Of-Life Index HQLI. The NRS was found to be reliable; this was ascertained by comparing its results with those found by using other scales such as the visual analogue scale, the box scale, verbal rating scale and a four point and five-point verbal rating scale. It was found that there were similar results in the number of subjects who responded correctly therefore supporting the predictive validity of each measure. The validity of the dyspnea scale was based on the opinions of previous scholars, (McCord and Cronin-Stubbs 1992; Silvestri & Mahler). As for the constipation assessment scale, the authors rated this instrument as sensitive and reliable, owing to the test retest that provided a brief delay that was seen as a strong evidence of reliability. (MSAS) was rated as valid by the authors because of its high correlations with clinical status and QOL. The Hospice Index Quality-Of-Life Index was rated as valid because of its ability to differentiate between hospice patients and apparently healthy controls. 3) Â   Â   Â  What limitations did the authors face in data collection? How could these have been lessened or minimized? Challenges faced in data collection included the study was conducted on a hospice population and therefore there was slow accrual and high attrition. Another factor is that they had a small sample and therefore could not conduct model testing. 4) Â   Â   Â  What demographic information was reported? Demographic information includes the age of the participants. The level of education the participants had attained and in terms of in years. The genders of the participants whether they were male or female. 5) Â   Â   Â  What were the variables that were studied? The variables tested include the intensity of pain, constipation, QOL , symptoms distress and dyspnea. 6) Â   Â   Â  Did there exist any inferential tests used in the scrutiny of raw data in this study? If so, what were they? There were inferential tests. This were based on the findings of bodies such as the national hospice and palliative care organization (2005), the findings mirrored those of the author for instance; close to 63% of patients are 75 years and older and therefore don’t last long, they die shortly after joining the hospice. 7) Â   Â   Â  Discuss the use of any figures, graphs and tables. Was the information conveyed in an understandable and meaningful way? The author has used a flow chat giving the detailed progress of the dyads in the study. The chat is clear and straight to the point. The author has also used a graph indicating the progress of the patients in response to the cope intervention and the progress of those who were receiving standard care and support, the graph is clear

Fans and their Diehard Spirit Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Fans and their Diehard Spirit - Essay Example Fans and their Diehard Spirit Indeed even today millions go through the writings and the meanings and perceptions, that one can gather from Karl Marx engraved thoughts, can very much be likened to the crowd behaving at the NBA game. People differ in their perceptional qualities and attitudes and it is this difference, which the writer really wants to portray in the context of the NBA game. The writer has been quite successful in this process and allows the reader to very well project the human tendency, to view things differently under altering conditions and situations. It is very true that in one sense this renders a subtle effect, which helps the players to get on with the game. But fans and spectators who watch a game differ in their viewpoints based on what they see and believe. It is this inner reaction which is produced, that is very well exhibited by them, in the form of different kinds of emotions during the course of the game. In certain cases such emotionally charged up fans turn out to be fanatics, when their spirits burst out of them in the form of violent actions. In many cases where the fans have become fanatics, they lose control on their self and most of them indulge in activities, which cause harm to the surroundings. Indeed a very good example can be had from the incidences that happened during the course of the NBA game between the Boston Celtics versus Utah Jazz, which would give a very good perspective of the fans and their behavior during the course of the game.... But to sum it up it is really the fans that enliven any game, no matter which ever part of earth it is being played, that brings the true spirit of the game. Though the perceptions and their attitudes are totally different, the fans really crowd together and spend their valuable time to cheer up for their home teams. This very well show that people really club together as per their likes and also are more attached to their natives, than to the foreigners. In some cases it is this team spirit and the excessive fan spirit, which really spoils the games since there have been several past occasions of fans turning very rude and indulging in clashes. This is clearly revealed in the below lines that states â€Å"The filmmaker was even struck blurring the camera from taking clear shots of the event†. (www.thegazette.com) This above said human perceptions and the difference in attitudes bringing contrasting actions can be very much likened to the Karl Marx writings, which have the sam e effect on the reader even after so many years. Karl Marx People around the world perceive things differently because they are quite intrinsically different and are sure to hold different view points, about a certain thing that occurs in the world. This could be with regards to a particular object, a phenomenon occurring in nature or it could be any incidence that normally happens, in the course of the day today life. It is this difference in the view point or the perception of the individual human beings, which Karl Marx tries to bring out through his writings. It very well proves that the same terms, whatever it may be philosophical or any other word that may be used with regards to a particular context, could bring into picture one set

ICT Knowledge Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

ICT Knowledge Management - Essay Example Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has introduced such technologies which really help managers and employees in the management of relevant knowledge. Companies cannot install ICT technologies properly on their own. Therefore, they hire ICT specialists for the installation of any specific ICT technology. Smith (2011) states, â€Å"An information and communications technology (ICT) specialist designs, maintains, and services systems used to store, retrieve, and send data†. Let us now discuss the role which ICT can play in knowledge management. In the report, we will consider one of the most effective ICT technologies which helps companies determine what information should be collected and converted into knowledge. The ICT technology, which will be discussed in the paper, will be Management and Information System (MIS). We will also discuss the role of ICT in different industries. 2. Role of the ICT Technology ICT plays a considerable role in knowledge management. Man agement Information System is an example of ICT which helps employees in the management of information that is required to run different business activities. Martin (2010) asserts, â€Å"Management Information Systems, which are often abbreviated to MIS are a subdivision of internal business controls that usually refer to documents, IT, people and procedures†. ... illon (2010) states, â€Å"The chief principle of management information system is to make sure that the flow of correct information is facilitated to the right people or parties in an organization†. The key tasks of an efficient Management Information System include management of business related information, documentation of the collected information, and assisting the management in processing the information. â€Å"The processing of data into information and communicating the resulting information to the user are the very essence of an MIS† (Lucey 2005, p. 4). Management Information System presents the data to the concerned department in the form of a well-documented report consisting of those activities that are needed to be executed by the management of any specific department. The main purpose of using ICT technologies in an organization is to develop and manage such tools which help managers, decision makers, and other employees of an organization in the processi ng of information related to different sets of tasks and business operations. ICT is considered an integral part of any organization because it controls all activities regarding businesses of any organization by providing the right information to the right person at right place and at the right time. ICT not only helps companies collect relevant information, rather it is also used to process, analyze, and disseminate the collected information in order to carry out key business processes of an organization. Abel (2008) found that MIS deals with the planning, management, and use of effective information technology tools to help people manage relevant knowledge. Without the use of effective Management Information System, the employees can never properly access or use the information that is required to run

The BP Oil Spill and Considering Business Ethics

The BP Oil Spill and Considering Business Ethics Based on the BP Oil Explosion in Texas, the tragedy caused huge environment damages and the threaten to human safety and health: the deep-water oil spilled on the ocean and the shorelines, the effects on the ecology of coastline and marine habits, the burning-off oil-water mix causing air pollution, the hazardous material leak into the atmosphere, the old drum too closed to highly flammable Isom waiting to explode, in which 5 workers were killed and 170 were injured on March 23 2005. The problems with the incident involve unsafe working environment, disproportionate efforts and insufficient information of safety knowledge. While this error attributes to the workers individual improper act, the statement is inaccurate in that it fails to reflect how to make safety environment in working in BP oil plants. In addition, between BPs upper-class executives, who made more scandals, in order to reduce operation costs and make better financial business cycles, they even resigned avoid to accident responsibility, made false audit financial statement, disapproved Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board reports, delayed all essential expenditures. On the other hand, who is responsibility for handling with the accidents, who is taking care of employees safety and life, and who is preserving the earth we live and giving us good environment? According to the accident BP oil spill explosion in Texas refinery, it has caused serious environment damage and irreversible dead and injured. This inspiration is given is that the corporation have to ensure the corporation security, find out security problems to avoid the accident happen again. In this accident, the spokesman of BP Ron Chapman claimed, The BP fatal investigation team did not identify previous budget decisions or lack of expenditure as a critical factor or immediate cause. The clarification is vague and unacceptable. To enhance corporation safety, we could reveal the fact by discounting several of clues: The claim that the workers injures are caused by of the workers individual inattention to the safety code is doubtful. According to Baker Panels reports, the BPs employee agreed to follow the existing security conduction. In contrast, Bakers Panel found that the workers were lack of operating discipline, which implicates the responsibility vaguely. In Baker Panels r eports, on 9th Dec 2005 BP invested 10,000,000 on Texas. Unfortunately, BP dealt with the accident on financial way. BPs irresponsible attitude could be found on Lord Browne, BPs chief executives early retirement when the accident happened. Afterwards, BPs safety policies are stops at paper work only to exhibit the safety and health regulations. In the similar way, the boards of director and executives monitored the safety systems by emphasizing the workers safety repeatedly on the reports. And, another irresponsible attitude is, Carolyn Merrits, chair of CBS, said CBSs executives disagree with the report about the financial budgets. In corporations safety and health conduction, someone would responsible for safe operating practices. However, the workers do not have proper safety and health conduction to follow. The safety code in BP to acting is only concentrated on reducing personal injuries which is useless on save workers life such a dangerous industry, petroleum firm ignore th e safety process and can not control petroleum safety. First of all, I believe that the BPs employees, especially the workers do not be treated fairly based on the safety and healthy conduction. The law can not protect the employees from danger and threaten of the chemicals and petroleum. For example, the employee made much more efforts to earn their safety and only on preventing self injuries, not on all unexpected dangers and threatens. In addition, BP workers are lack of training based on the safety and health conduction. The workers do not have sufficient knowledge and training to fully make their work environment safely, so that the accidents happen all the time. While the accident happened, the workers cannot handle with the situation so that they lose their life or get injuries. However, by law, the corporation safety is supervised by Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Obviously, OSHA is an inefficient organization, and it does not supervise the corporation safety and health. As we read, OSHA did not help BP mak e Safety and Health code, OSHA did not inspected whether BPs safety action is accurate under the safety and health code periodically. OSHA did not make sure the workers use chemical in the right way, did not make sure the petroleum facilities are safe and did not make sure the worker works in a safe working environment. On the other hand, BP workers do not protect by the labor law, despite the corporations have to obey the law and respect the human rights, the company does not follow. The workers overtime work, explode on the danger environment, their life and safety are threatened all the time, and their human rights are not respected. In the second place, the financial cycles become an only factor in running companys business. In order to make more business benefit, the BP Company canceled security budget, thus BP used a pressure budget to run safety program which cause serious safety problem. On the basis of BPs financial statements, BP only bought cheap equipment so that it caused the blow down drum leak hazardous material into atmosphere. Moreover, the drum in Texas was built in 1950s and refitted in 1997 which is exactly old that is why caused BP explosion accident. So far as we know, on BPs financial statement, based on the oil majors mantra: squeeze more cash out of a well, or plant, by cutting costs to the bone, and delay all but essential expenditure. More cash from shrinking assets: higher returns. BP delayed all essential expenditure to other companies, government, investorsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ which is unfaithful to the people who supported BPs business, nevertheless, BP made more serious environment polluti on on them. To make matters worse, BP shrunk most of their assets to the cash which made more unstable business. Nevertheless, BPs executives were still proud of their financial management which made high profits and good business cycles. Such a company does not pay their expenditures, makes dangerous and unstable of assets and cashes, how could the citizens and residents listen to the company and trust the company? The only thing BP Company concerned about is high profit. To maintain adequate safety and health standards, companies must avoid: Business decision against safety and health regulations. Business decision against human rights. Business decision against environmental laws. Ineffective management on safety and health conduction. Ineffective management of OSHA. Ineffective management of safety and health line management. Ineffective management of broad committee. Insufficient information of safety and health discipline. Irresponsible attitude of management. Cost cutting in safety and health budget. Cost cutting in training, discipline of safety and health. Cost cutting in buying proper equipment or buy inexpensive equipment under safety and health code. Contribution to political interests, or other interests outside the companies. Participating unacceptable business practices. Under the business interests, the corporations tend to act on behalf of their own short-term interests, not on behalf of the environment. This clam gives rise to complex issues about business interests and corporation responsibilities. In my view, the claim assumes a distortedly narrow view of corporation responsibilities, ignoring certain aspects of more expenditure of safety and health and environment prevention. On the contrary, maximizing shareholders wealth and preserving security environment at times coincides and at times conflicts. While the companies may only focus on the business interests, an unknowing toxin pollutes the environment, it would be cost much more to clean up and restore the environment. Furthermore, the compensation of the dead and injury workers caused the companies more losing their interests than business interests. Thus the employees would lose their jobs, and the shareholders would lose their benefits as well. Thus it caused the increasing of the oil pri ces, consequently individuals all around the world paid for these irresponsible of environment damage. Financial cycle of course an important factor to be taken into account but there are also many more essential factors playing just as pivotal a role and not one of them, including, the safety and health, corporation environment, social obligation, good managementà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ Corporation responsibilities is determining in every single case. However, few companies take more consideration of business benefits, but the BP explosion tragedy told us the importance of the corporation responsibilities: Financial cycle should not be overriding factor in running the business; the corporation should not take ethics in trading off individuals for the sake of its own profits. As it stands, the company need take corporation responsibilities to protect employees safety and preserving the nature environment. Accordingly, the corporations have to fairly treat their employees by following the labor law. The companies have to respect the human right of their employees; do not make the workers overtime work, make over efforts, and employees have the rights to have adequate discipline of safe and health working environment. Consequently, the corporations have to protect the employees safety and health by following the safety and health conduction. The corporation need have their own safety and health regulation to prevent the unexpected safety and health accidents. On this ground, the companies have to follow the relevant safety and health authorities conduction; the companies have to make sure have the proper safety and health action for employees to follow. The companies have to give the employees sufficient safety and health information, proper safety and heal th training, criteria safety and health facilities and review the safety and health conduction periodically. The workers not only have the knowledge of prevent individuals from injuries, should know about their job-related problems, but also having the thorough knowledge of the safety and health conduction to know how to protect their selves from danger chemicals, petroleum and unexpected accidents. While it makes some sense in a vague way to share the responsibilities, the obligations belong to individuals will allocated by all relevant lines of authority within the organization. When we do assign responsibility to organizations, it must be clearly distributed to individuals. Nowadays fewer and fewer individuals accept to work in a risk, unsafely and unhealthy working environment. More and more companies increase ethical standards to turn into the corporation responsibilities. The primary obligation to preserve the environment is necessarily to be obeyed by the companies. The corporation must, at the very least respect the law, respect the human rights; obey the safety and health regulations and environmental preserving conductions. The law and the human rights will priority to run the business. In order to practice the law, the companies require portioning out fixed and proper safety and health budget which is at least enough to maintain equipment, provide sufficient safe and health information and training to the employees as an essential budget in running the business. To prevent other external interests the companies from cutting the safety and health budget, the companies should not give political contributions or unacceptable business practices from corporation funds which other external interests could affect companies budgets. Besides, the penalties or compensations might be a measure to prevent companies unwilling to act corporation responsibilities. Furthermore, the corporations require obeying the safety and health regulation via the supervision of the directors of board committees and also the corporations require being supervision under safety, ethics and environment assurance committee. Moreover, the corporation could make ethical strategies into trading rules which benefit a corporation financially thus the shareholders will choose the high ethical to follow when pursuing high business interests. The government might be advised to enhance more safety and health competitions to stimulate more economy maximize highly ethical behavior when the businesses maximize profits. In the final conclusion, business ethical is always beyond business interests. Thus the choice to follow high ethical standards, in many cases, it will make the life better. Notwithstanding, few corporations concerned about their short-term interests, we could make the law to help the organizations to follow business ethics as an essential factor to make the company profits and help the company long-term survival. To make the good life, good future and achieve such goals, we encourage the leadership to turn into the right direction, to think more about ethical behavior when attempting to run the maximum profits. BPs oil spill explosion tragedy is an example to tell us to practice corporation responsibilities and preserve the nature environment. The safety and health environment belongs to each individual. Because workers, employees and individuals cannot scope the environment regulations and safety and health conductions, the corporations, industries, relative authorizations, and org anizations must to do so.

Ode to a Nightingale and Two Look at Two Essay -- Keats Frost Animals

Ode to a Nightingale and Two Look at Two In "Ode to a Nightingale" and "Two Look at Two", both poems tells of an experience in which the human characters encounters animals in the poems, the experiences are handled quite differently in the two poems. In "Ode to a Nightingale", Keats often express his sad feelings and uses the Nightingale and portray it as some sort of a god or peaceful symbol. As the poem started off with Keats expressing how drunk the character was and that as if he has taken some drugs - hemlock, and that he wanted so much to drink more so that he can enter this world in which this Nightingale is in. Keats shows a kind of experience that is not very realistic / not real, or another word - like a dream, and very imaginative. For example the character is seeing things that does not actually happens, but things that the character is imagining, or what he thinks, like when he heard the beautiful song of the Nightingale, he started to think that he might be able to enter the same world as the Nightingale's. One other very important thing is that Keats use animals to express his deepest feelings, and using the experience with the animals to show and remind himself of his past and the present sad, sorrow feelings, as shown on this 3 sentences: "Where youth grows pale, and spectre-thin, an dies, Where but to think is to be full of sorrow And leaden-eyed despairs," One of the reasons to why he wrote like this is probably because he was very unhappy at the time, and seeing most of his brother, relative dieing around him, not only that he is also suffering at the time himself, therefore these might be some of the reason why he wrote such a miserable poem. To connect with this... ...ritory between the animal and the humans, for example the wall acts as a boundary which separates the two different species apart, where the experience is in the real world but not in the dream of a man and the human in this is therefore unable to come to the animal as the man did in Keats poem with the Nightingale. Keats and Frost both uses and handle their experience in the poem very differently from each other, as described above. And Keats has his own imagination poems, where as Frost's is a much more direct approach and where the characters are in the real world, and things are not as relaxing as it seems as in Keats's. Frost uses of personification allows the reader to understand the animals a lot more, and where as Keats, the Nightingale is singing its heart out, but we do not know why it flies away and what was its motive through out the poem. Ode to a Nightingale and Two Look at Two Essay -- Keats Frost Animals Ode to a Nightingale and Two Look at Two In "Ode to a Nightingale" and "Two Look at Two", both poems tells of an experience in which the human characters encounters animals in the poems, the experiences are handled quite differently in the two poems. In "Ode to a Nightingale", Keats often express his sad feelings and uses the Nightingale and portray it as some sort of a god or peaceful symbol. As the poem started off with Keats expressing how drunk the character was and that as if he has taken some drugs - hemlock, and that he wanted so much to drink more so that he can enter this world in which this Nightingale is in. Keats shows a kind of experience that is not very realistic / not real, or another word - like a dream, and very imaginative. For example the character is seeing things that does not actually happens, but things that the character is imagining, or what he thinks, like when he heard the beautiful song of the Nightingale, he started to think that he might be able to enter the same world as the Nightingale's. One other very important thing is that Keats use animals to express his deepest feelings, and using the experience with the animals to show and remind himself of his past and the present sad, sorrow feelings, as shown on this 3 sentences: "Where youth grows pale, and spectre-thin, an dies, Where but to think is to be full of sorrow And leaden-eyed despairs," One of the reasons to why he wrote like this is probably because he was very unhappy at the time, and seeing most of his brother, relative dieing around him, not only that he is also suffering at the time himself, therefore these might be some of the reason why he wrote such a miserable poem. To connect with this... ...ritory between the animal and the humans, for example the wall acts as a boundary which separates the two different species apart, where the experience is in the real world but not in the dream of a man and the human in this is therefore unable to come to the animal as the man did in Keats poem with the Nightingale. Keats and Frost both uses and handle their experience in the poem very differently from each other, as described above. And Keats has his own imagination poems, where as Frost's is a much more direct approach and where the characters are in the real world, and things are not as relaxing as it seems as in Keats's. Frost uses of personification allows the reader to understand the animals a lot more, and where as Keats, the Nightingale is singing its heart out, but we do not know why it flies away and what was its motive through out the poem.

Aging Aircraft and Structural Failures

Aloha Airlines Flight 243: Structural Failure of an Aging Aircraft Safety 335 aloha Airlines Flight 243: Structural Failure of an Aging Aircraft The age of the United States' commercial aircraft fleet is a serious problem. The average age of commercial airline fleets is continuing to increase. As of year 2000, more than 2,500 commercial aircraft in the United States were flying beyond their original design lives. In 1988, a major incident in which the top peeled off an Aloha Airlines Boeing 737 in flight, sweeping a flight attendant to her death, was blamed on weak maintenance of the old aircraft's structure.The flight attendant was swept overboard at 24,000 feet after a spontaneous failure of one of the aircraft's longitudinal joints. The aircraft involved, a Boeing 737, had been subjected to the severe operating environment particular to inter-island service during its 19-year lifespan. The Aloha Airlines 737 was the second oldest aircraft still in service. The aircraft, which had been designed for 75,000 flight cycles, had actually accumulated 89,680 cycles with stage lengths of 20 to 40 minutes. This intensive use also inflicts the loads associated with repeated pressurization and de-pressurization of the aircraft's cabin.Fuselage fatigue damage is primarily caused by the application of the pressurization cycle that occurs on each flight. Typically, the inter-island carriers fly at 23,000 ft while the cabin is pressurized to 8,000 creating a 5 psi differential. The fuselage of this aircraft suffered from extensive Multiple Site Damage (MSD). MSD occurs when stress factors are fairly uniform, so that small cracks appear and grow at roughly the same rate. Each individual crack is difficult to see and by itself poses little problem; however, the small cracks can join together to form a large crack (Oster, Clinton, Strong, Zorn, 1992).The Aloha 737's MSD's were cracks extending on both sides of rivet holes along the upper row of the lap joints along the fuselag e. Two other major fuselage failures existed on the upper row of rivets on the S10L lap joint. Near the forward entry door, the MSD cracks had joined to form a single crack about 6-8 inches long. Two passengers noticed this crack as they boarded the aircraft in Hilo, HI. The crack was long enough and wide enough that the internal fiberglass insulation was being extruded from it. The passengers did not report the crack, feeling that if the aircraft was not safe, the airline would obviously not fly it (NTSB, 1988).The focus of the National Transportation Safety Board's (NTSB) hearings were the failure of the Boeing 737's design to Safely Decompress. Contrary to the NTSB findings, the fuselage did tear open a Safe Decompression Flap as designed. If the Flight Attendant had not been standing directly underneath the Flap when it occurred, the plane would probably not have suffered an explosive decompression (Hinder, 2000). The forces exerted on the fuselage by leveling of the aircraft wa s the final blow that caused a link up of MSD cracks at BS500 (Approximately Row 5) which were arrested by the Safe Decompression design causing the Flap to open.At the instant in time represented by Figure 1, the aircraft is in the process of rotating from climb to level flight, there is a tear in the S10L lap joint at approximately in front of row 1 and a Safe Decompression Flap at approximately Row 5. [pic] Figure 1 The cabin was pressurized. With the approximately 10†³ x10†³ opening, the internal cabin air began to escape at over 700 mph. The Flight Attendant who was reaching to pick up a cup from Passenger 5B was immediately sucked into but not through the Safe Decompression Flap. Only the Flight Attendant's right arm and head were forced through the opening.This effectively slammed the door shut on a 700 mph jet stream. The resultant reaction to corking a high velocity fluid flow is called a Fluid Hammer. The attempt to stop the high velocity airflow causes a pressur e spike of high value (hundreds of pounds per square inch) and short duration (only tens of thousandths of a second). The fuselage integrity was severely degraded due to the MSD and its 0. 036†³ (36 thousandths of an inch) pressure boundary wall thickness is only designed for about 8. 5 psi normal operating pressure differential. The fuselage could barely contain the normal operating pressure.The Fluid Hammer caused the fuselage skin to crack (Hinder, 2000). Fluid flow always follows the path of least resistance. With the Flap at row 5 plugged and the fuselage skin between in front of row 1 and row 5 completely severed, the internal cabin pressure begins to push outward on the fuselage skin, sensing the weakest point as halfway between in front of row 1 and row 5. This is the location identified by the NTSB as the probable location of the initial failure. For the next 0. 6 seconds (6 tenths of a second) the aircraft is propelled nose down and to the right by the internal air es caping from the disintegrating fuselage.The Flight Attendant begins to slide toward the rear of the aircraft as the lap joint separates. See Figure 2. [pic] Figure 2 For the next 1. 2 seconds the aircraft the moves up and to the left as sections of the fuselage continue to peel away. The section between row 1 and row 5 blows out and downward. The roof section blows up, tearing from the row 1 seam. At row 5, the roof crack angles diagonally back toward the top centerline of the aircraft. Aft of row 5, along the lap joint, above the joint, a diagonal piece folds back over on itself.Below the joint, the window belt section tears in a backward direction. The Flight Attendant continues to slide rearward. See Figure 3. [pic] Figure 3 The window belt section aft of row 5 and below the lap-joint folds back over rearward. This pops out the window just forward of the row 6 seam and tears the fuselage from the window to the lap joint. This allows the Flight Attendant's head and body to drop ap proximately 1 foot just as the section slams against the exterior fuselage. See Figure 4. [pic] Figure 4 The pilots told of a sudden whooshing sound at 24,000 ft. flying debris in the cockpit and a bouncing 25-mile descent with one engine out. The flight was diverted to Maui and a successful landing was accomplished with a significant portion of the fuselage missing. Sixty-nine of the 95 passengers sustained injuries from flailing wires, metal strips and wind burn (Hinder, 2000). According to the NTSB's report on the investigation, contributing factors were improper inspection by company maintenance personnel, inadequate supervision of maintenance personnel, inadequate supervision by the FAA and inadequate aircraft equipment from the manufacturer.Numerous other structural failure incidents of note in the same time period also brought to light significant problems to be addressed. In October 1988, a foot long crack was noted in a B-737 while stripping paint. In December 1988, a B-727 was noted with a 14†³ crack in the fuselage. In February 1989, a B-747 cargo door failed, the fuselage was torn off and nine passengers were sucked to their deaths. In July 1989, a pre-flight inspection revealed a 20†³ long fatigue crack in the wing of a B-727 (Oster, et al, 1992).Though durability and damage tolerance were issues prior to this, the Aloha incident is generally considered to be the start of the Federal Aviation Authorities (FAA) Focused Aging Aircraft Program. The first response to the accident was an industry-wide review of the adequacy of aircraft design and efficacy of maintenance programs. In general, the aviation community found that with proper maintenance and structural modifications and with attention to service related damage such as fatigue and corrosion, the service lives of airplanes could be safely extended (Seher, Smith, 2001).To identify and rectify issues related to operation of aircraft beyond their designed service objectives, the Air Wor thiness Assurance Working Group (AAWG), the National Aging Aircraft Program, and the National Aging Aircraft Research Programs were established. The National Aeronautical and Space Administration (NASA) and the United States Air Force joined in and concentrated on research in fatigue and fracture issues associated with crack initiation, crack growth and residual strength of multi-site damaged fuselage skins (Seher, Smith, 2001).Though progress has been made in the area of aging aircraft, the continued desire to maintain aircraft in revenue service beyond their design service objectives and the poor financial performance of carriers, there will almost certainly be new structural integrity problems. It is the mission of the FAA's Aging Aircraft and Continued Airworthiness Programs to ensure that age-related problems are predicted and eliminated or mitigated prior to their having a major impact on safety. References Hinder, Prof. , (2000, January 17).Flight 243 Separation Sequence, Pos ted to Disaster city, archived at www. disastercity. com. National Transportation Safety Board Report Identification: DCA88MA054-AAR-89/03. Air Carrier Aloha Airlines Inc. , April 28, 1988, Maui, HI. Oster, C. , Strong, J. , Zorn, K. , (1992), Why Airplanes Crash, Aviation Safety in a Changing World, Oxford University Press, Oxford. Seher, C. , Smith, C. , (2001), Managing the Aging Aircraft Problem, Symposium on Aging Mechanisms and Control, Manchester, England.

At Project Management Center of Excellence Communications Leader Promotes Project Management Leadership Essay Example

At Project Management Center of Excellence Communications Leader Promotes Project Management Leadership Essay Example At Project Management Center of Excellence Communications Leader Promotes Project Management Leadership Paper At Project Management Center of Excellence Communications Leader Promotes Project Management Leadership Paper OUR LADY OF FATIMA UNIVERSITY ANTIPOLO CAMPUS A BUSINESS CASE STUDY ATT PROJECT MANAGEMENT CENTER OF EXCELLENCE Communications Leader Promotes Project Management Leadership Submitted to: Dr, Marmelo V. Abante CCS Dept. Head / Project Management Professor Submitted by: Brioso, John Oliver P. Student ATT PROJECT MANAGEMENT CENTER OF EXCELLENCE Communications Leader Promotes Project Management Leadership INTRODUCTION As a world leader in communication technology, ATT connects people from all around the globe. Just as consumers and businesses rely on ATT services to stay connected, ATT relies on internal resources, in particular project and program managers, to remain a best in-class service provider. BACKGROUND ATT Inc. (NYSE: T News) is a premier communications holding company. Its subsidiaries and affiliates, ATT operating companies, are the providers of ATT services in the United States and around the world. Among their offerings are the worlds most advanced IP-based business communications services and the nations leading wireless, high speed Internet access and voice services? In domestic markets, ATT is known for the directory publishing and advertising sales leadership of its Yellow Pages and YELLOWPAGES. COM organizations, and the ATT brand is licensed to innovators in such fields as communications equipment. As part of its three-screen integration strategy, ATT is expanding its TV entertainment offerings. In 2008, ATT again ranked No. 1 on Fortune magazines Worlds Most Admired Telecommunications Company list and No. 1 on Americas Most Admired Telecommunications Company list. In an effort to institute common standards, foster a project management culture and improve individual and organizational competencies, AT established a Project Management Center of Excellence (PMCOE). The PMCOE targeted over 10,000 project managers, program managers and their supervisors, as well as holders of the Project Management Professional (PMP ®) credential within the company, with the mission to be recognized internally as the resource for project management consulting, mentoring, training, processes, tools and techniques. Additional goals of the PMCOE included: Drive AT culture to advocate, support and sustain professional project management Assess and improve AT professional project management competency at all levels: individual, team and organizational Ensure the right processes, services and tools are in place and linked to support professional project management success Ensure pertinent information is communicated to the PM Community in the most effective manner poss ible Secure visible leadership champions to support PMCOE initiatives Facilitate creation of a project management community to promote exchange of information to improve project management practices Encourage, facilitate and support continuing education and development of the PMCOE team. The project was led by 11 PMPs with an expense budget that covered the cost of the team’s professional development and the costs associated with the annual AT Project Management Symposium, a significant PMCOE initiative. GOALS AND OBJECTIVES BUSINESS GOALS AND OBJECTIVES The business goals and objectives for this project will focus on implementing mobile technology that: Improves officer, firefighter and citizen safety. Facilitates coordination and information sharing both internal and external to the participating organizations. Enhances the ability and effectiveness of staff to perform their jobs. Facilitates coordinated crime prevention and reduction. Provides high levels of data security. Provides an open, flexible, reliable technology base for the future. Facilitates the electronic capture of data at its source. Is easy to use. Eliminate redundant data entry throughout the organization. PROJECT GOALS AND OBJECTIVES Sample project goals and objectives: Ensure that end users have input into the design process. Accomplish project business goals and objectives within defined budget and time parameters. Minimize impact to standard business operations within the affected units. Craft a favorable and secure agreement between the Department and the sele cted vendor. PROJECT MANAGEMENT PLAN To support the AT Project Management Community, the PMCOE established consultants who were designated to support the various business units within the company. This business unit specific support provided the guidance and resources project management community members required even more intensive consulting was provided upon request to ensure that all needs were met. To understand which services were most important to the AT Project Management Community, the PMCOE distributed both company-wide and business unit surveys to identify problem areas (e. g. leadership support, adequate training, etc. ) and determine what needs its audience had which could potentially be met by the center. Initial discussions and survey findings helped to tailor the PMCOE offerings to provide the best payback of investment for both the PM Community and PMCOE efforts. Since effective communication was a vital element to the success of the project, the PMCOE established a formal Communications Management Plan which promoted awareness nd use of PMCOE products and services throughout the company. As companies merged, targeted emails to known project and program managers of each legacy company were used to announce the center’s purpose and mission, offering to support their professional needs. As the PM Community grew, the PMCOE launched a monthly newsletter containin g recent project management accomplishments, success stories, upcoming events and reminders of best practices. It was distributed via corporate email to ensure that information was being disseminated effectively. More recently, the PMCOE is expanding communications through rich content on the corporate intranet using the latest in Web 2. 0 technology. Additionally, to further promote the PMCOE and communicate the mission of the center, an annual AT PM Symposium was established to bring significant recognition to the practice of professional project management at AT. The annual event provides training and empowerment for project managers as well as the opportunity to network and collaborate with peers. Furthermore, leadership involvement in the Symposium has been consistently high, and in 2007, 22 AT officers and vice presidents participated across multiple locations. Communication with these corporate leaders has also been a critical success factor for the PMCOE. AT has found that when executives and middle managers support the mission of the center, their words have a significant influence on the project management community. CURRENT SITUATION AND PROBLEM OPPORTUNITY STATEMENT The largest challenge the PMCOE faced was that during project activities, legacy companies SBC and AT merged, bringing together two distinct project management improvement organizations with slightly different areas of focus. This change forced the PMCOE to reevaluate the project and determine how to appropriately fuse the strengths of the two organizations. The PMCOE was also finding it difficult to determine the best way to support the over 10,000 employees that make up AT project management community. Within the community, there are various business units all of which have different needs and concentrations. Additionally, not only was the PMCOE tasked to support a large number of AT project managers, they had to also understand which services were most important to them. Finally, effective and efficient communication would be a key element for he success of the PMCOE; however with such a sizeable and worldwide PM population, the PMCOE would have to determine how to best share valu able information on a large scale. Without appropriate communication, the PMCOE risked going unrecognized and not being used to its full potential. CRITICAL ASSUMPTIONS AND CONSTRAINTS PROJECT ASSUMPTIONS The following assumptions were made in preparing the Project Plan: AT employees are willing to change business operations to take advantage of the functionality offered by the new mobile technology. Management will ensure that project team members are available as needed to complete project tasks and objectives. The Steering Committee will participate in the timely execution of the Project Plan (i. e. , timely approval cycles and meeting when required). Failure to identify changes to draft deliverables within the time specified in the project timeline will result in project delays. Project team members will adhere to the Communications Plan. Mid and upper management will foster support and â€Å"buy-in† of project goals and objectives. The City will ensure the existence of a technological infrastructure that can support the new mobile technology. All project participants will abide by the guidelines identified within this plan. The Project Plan may change as new information and issues are revealed. PROJECT CONSTRAINT The following represent known project constraints: Project funding sources are limited, with no contingency. Due to the nature of law enforcement, resource availability is inconsistent. ANALYSIS OF OPTIONS AND RECOMMENDATION To combat and avoid challenges during the development of the center, the PMCOE applied a project management methodology that was in complete alignment with A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK ® Guide). The first priority was to ensure that the merging of the PM practices between legacy companies ran smoothly. As such, the PMCOE followed a five step process as established by PMI for successful project management: The Initiating Process During this stage, the PMCOE team received approval from se nior management to establish the merged PMCOE. A proposal was developed which included a needs assessment, resource forecast and financial benefits. During annual planning, the PMCOE Business Plan was re-evaluated to ensure mission and goals were in alignment with corporate priorities and strategic drivers. The Planning Process The team determined which project management products and services from each legacy team continued to add value to the project management community. A needs assessment was completed to identify the most critical project management products and services under the new AT vision and mission statement. The Executing Process – The team executed the outlined plan which resulted in delivering the project on time, under budget and with quality. Within several months, the new PMCOE had executed the integration of the two legacy teams and gained traction with the recently merged PM Community. The Monitoring and Controlling Process The PMCOE reported business plan goals each month to senior management. An annual Client Satisfaction Survey was distributed at the end of the year to capture feedback from the merged AT Project Management Community and additional surveys were distributed to the participants of major deliverables including the annual AT Project Management Symposium. All this feedback was analyzed and incorporated into key findings that were then used to improve the PMCOE. The Closing Process – This final step occurred in two distinct stages. First, the integration of the legacy teams was completed successfully. Next, the process (Planning, Executing, Monitoring and Controlling) was repeated when legacy BellSouth and legacy Cingular project managers were incorporated effectively into the PMCOE Business Plan. To finally close the project, lessons learned were identified to assist with future planning. POTENTIAL PROJECT RISKS RiskRisk Level L/M/HLikelihood of EventMitigation Strategy Project Size Person HoursH: Over 20,000CertaintyAssigned Project Manager, engaged consultant, comprehensive project management approach and communications plan Estimated Project ScheduleH: Over 12 monthsCertaintyCreated comprehensive project timeline with frequent baseline reviews Team Size at PeakH: Over 15 membersCertaintyComprehensive communications plan, frequent meetings, tight project management oversight Number of Interfaces to Existing Systems AffectedH: Over 3CertaintyDevelop interface control document immediately Project Definition Narrow Knowledge Level of UsersM: Knowledgeable of user area onlyLikelyAssigned Project Manager(s) to assess global implications Available documentation clouds establishment of baselineM: More than 75% complete/currentLikelyBalance of information to be gathered by consultant Project Scope CreepL: Scope generally defined, subject to revisionUnlikelyScope intially defined in project plan, reviewed monthly by three groups (Project Manager and Steering Committee) to prevent undetected scope creep Consultant Project Deliverables unclearL: Well definedUnlikelyIncluded in project plan, subject to amendment Vendor Project DeliverablesM: Estimated, not clearly definedSomewhat likelyIncluded in project plan, subject to amendment Cost Estimates UnrealisticL: Thoroughly predicted by industry experts using proven practices to 15% margin of errorUnlikelyIncluded in project plan, subject to amendment as new details regarding project scope are revealed Timeline Estimates UnrealisticM: Timeline assumes no derailmentSomewhat likelyTimeline reviewed monthly by three groups (Project Manager and Steering Committee) to prevent undetected timeline departures Number of Team Members Unknowledgeable of BusinessL: Team well versed in business operations impacted by technologyUnlikelyProject Manager and consultant to identify knowledge gaps and provide training, as necessary Project Leadership Steering Committee existenceL: Identified and enthusiasticUnlikelyFrequently seek feedback to ensure continued support Absence of Commitment Level/Attitude of ManagementL: Understands value supports projectUnlikelyFrequently seek feedback to ensure continued support Absence of Commitment Level/Attitude of UsersL: Understands value supports projectUnlikelyFrequently seek feedback to ensure continued support Absence of Mid-Management CommitmentL: Most understand value support projectUnlikelyFrequently seek feedback to ensure continued support Project Staffing Project Team AvailabilityM: Distributed team makes availability questionableSomewhat likelyContinuous review of project momentum by all levels. Consultant to identify any impacts caused by unavailability. If necessary, increase committmment by participants to full time status Physical Location of Team prevents effective managementM: Team is dispersed among several sitesLikelyUse of Intranet project website, comprehensive Communications Plan Project Team’s Shared Work Experience creates poor working relationshipM: Some have worked together beforeSomewhat likelyComprehensive Communications Plan Weak User Participation on Project TeamL: Users are part-time team membersUnlikelyUser Group Participants coordinated by full time employee Project Management Procurement Methodology Used foreign to teamL: Procurement Methodology familiar to teamUnlikelyN/A Change Management Procedures undefinedL: Well-definedUnlikelyN/A Quality Management Procedures unclearL: Well-defined and acceptedUnlikelyN/A Software Vendor Number of Times Team Has Done Prior Work with Vendor Creates Foreign RelationshipH: NeverCertaintyA comprehensive vendor evaluation and election process (incorporated into Project Plan) will be employed to predict and define the relationship between the department and the vendor Team’s Lack of Knowledge of PackageM: Conceptual understandingSomewhat likelyComprehensive vendor evaluation and selection process in corporated into Project Plan will assist the team in better understanding the package offering(s) Poor Functional Match of Package to Initial System RequirementsL: Minimal customization requiredUnlikelyAlthough a package has not yet been selected, the Consultant has compared the initial requirements with available functionality and determined that a functional match to the initial requirements is very likely. Vendor selection will be based, in part, on how well the proposed application matches defined functional specifications. Team’s Involvement in Package Selection Impacts Success of ImplementationL: High involvement in selectionUnlikelyComprehensive vendor evaluation and selection process incorporated into Project Plan PROJECT MANAGEMENT APPROACH RoleResponsibilities Project SponsorUltimate decision-maker and tie-breaker Provide project oversight and guidance Review/approve some project elements Steering CommitteeCommits department resources Approves major funding and resource allocation strategies, and significant changes to funding/resource allocation Resolves conflicts and issues Provides direction to the Project Manager Review project deliverables Project ManagerManages project in accordance to the project plan Serves as liaison to the Steering Committee Receive guidance from Steering Committee Supervises consultants Supervise vendor(s) Provide overall project direction Direct/lead team members toward project objectives Handle problem resolution Manages the project budget Project ParticipantsUnderstand the user needs and business processes of their area Act as consumer advocate in representing their area Communicate project goals, status and progress throughout the project to personnel in their area Review and approve project deliverables Creates or helps create work products Coordinates participation of work groups, individuals and stakeholders Provide knowledge and recommendations Helps identify and remove project barriers Assure quality of products that will meet the project goals and objectives Identify risks and issues and help in resolutions Subject Matter ExpertsLend expertise and guidance as needed PROJECT ROLES AND RE SPONSIBILITIES ? ISSUE MANAGEMENT The information contained within the Project Plan will likely change as the project progresses. While change is both certain and required, it is important to note that any changes to the Project Plan will impact at least one of three critical success factors: Available Time, Available Resources (Financial, Personnel), or Project Quality. The decision by which to make modifications to the Project Plan (including project scope and resources) should be coordinated using the following process: Step 1: As soon as a change which impacts project scope, schedule, staffing or spending is identified, the Project Manager will document the issue. Step 2:The Project Manager will review the change and determine the associated impact to the project and will forward the issue, along with a recommendation, to the Steering Committee for review and decision. Step 3:Upon receipt, the Steering Committee should reach a consensus opinion on whether to approve, reject or modify the request based upon the information contained within the project website, the Project Manager’s recommendation and their own judgment. Should the Steering Committee be unable to reach consensus on the approval or denial of a change, the issue will be forwarded to the Project Sponsor, with a written summation of the issue, for ultimate resolution. Step 4:If required under the decision matrix or due to a lack of consensus, the Project Sponsor shall review the issue(s) and render a final decision on the approval or denial of a change. Step 5:Following an approval or denial (by the Steering Committee or Project Sponsor), the Project Manager will notify the original requestor of the action taken. There is no appeal process. COMMUNICATION PLAN Disseminating knowledge about the project is essential to the project’s success. Project participants desire knowledge of what the status of the project is and how they are affected. Furthermore, they are anxious to participate. The more that people are educated about the progress of the project and how it will help them in the future, the more they are likely to participate and benefit. This plan provides a framework for informing, involving, and obtaining buy-in from all participants throughout the duration of the project. Audience, this communication plan is for the following audiences: Project Sponsor Steering Committee Project Manager User Group Participants Subject Matter Experts Communications Methodology The communications methodology utilizes three directions for effective communication: Top-Down. It is absolutely crucial that all participants in this project sense the executive support and guidance for this effort. The executive leadership of the organization needs to speak with a unified, enthusiastic voice about the project and what it holds for everyone involved. This will be hands-on change management, if it is to be successful. Not only will the executives need to speak directly to all levels of the organization, they will also need to listen directly to all levels of the organization, as well. The transition from the project management practices of today to the practices envisioned for tomorrow will be driven by a sure and convinced leadership focused on a vision and guided by clearly defined, strategic, measurable goals. Bottom-Up. To ensure the buy-in and confidence of the personnel involved in bringing the proposed changes to reality, it will be important to communicate the way in which the solutions were created. If the perception in the organization is that only the Steering Committee created the proposed changes, resistance is likely to occur. However, if it is understood that all participants were consulted, acceptance seems more promising. Middle-Out. Full support at all levels, where the changes will have to be implemented, is important to sustainable improvement. At this level (as with all levels), there must be an effort to find and communicate the specific benefits of the changes. People need a personal stake in the success of the project management practices. Communications Outreach The following is a list of communication events that are established for this project: Monthly Status Reports. The Project Manager shall provide monthly written status reports to the Steering Committee. The reports shall include the following information tracked against the Project Plan: Summary of tasks completed in previous month Summary of tasks scheduled for completion in the next month Summary of issue status and resolutions Communications Outreach, the following is a list of communication events that are established for this project: Monthly Steering Committee Meeting These status meetings are held at least once per month and are coordinated by the Project Manager. Every member of the Steering Committee participates in the meeting. The Project Manager sends the status report to each member of the team prior to the meeting time so everyone can review it in advance. Bi-Monthly Project Team Status Meeting These status meetings are held every other month. Every member of the Project Team will be invited to participate in the meeting. Project Manager sends the status report to each member of the team prior to the meeting so everyone can review it in advance. Website Use User Group Participants and Subject Matter Experts may be updated monthly at the discretion of the Project Manager. Information will be posted to the project’s website.

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