The Purple Hibiscus Analysis

The Purple Hibiscus Analysis Purple hibiscus is the first novel of the writer Chimanda Ngozi Adichie. The novel was published in 2003, it got a lot of attention in terms of prestigious prizes. Chimanda used her own experiences from her childhood to fill in the plot and lives of the characters. She was born in Kambilis home town Enugu, she is also a catholic. The main character is named Kambile Achike, a school girl that does exceptional in school. She lives with her parents mama, papa and her teenage brother Jaja. The story takes place in a city in Nigeria called Enugu, the novel begins with Jaja refusing to go to church on palm Sunday. Jaja has no good excuse for missing church so papa throws his book at him. The book hits his wifes shelf containing her beloved figurines. This is the beginning of the end for the Achike family. Afterwards Kambili explains what happened before Palm Sunday and all the events, papas sister Aunty Ifeoma is liberal and has been giving Jaja and Kambili rebel thoughts. Kambili does not say much and she often has problems speaking fluently without stuttering. Her strict father has shaped her this way by his rules and way of living. Every day she is in a schedule making her unable to do much else than eat, study, sleep and pray. Kambili is a good student and one of the best in her class. Because she does not talk much the girls in her class thinks she is a snob, she also runs straight to her dads car after class. Kambili is not a snob, but her dad is shaping her and she is unable to create her own identity. Her dad is expecting too much from Kambili and she only manages to finish second in her term. Papa tells her god expects more from her. Papa is an important man in Enugu, he owns several factories. He also publishes a newspaper called the standard. He is a rich man so he donated money to his local church community and his childrens school. His newspaper always tells the truth about the countrys conditions and therefore is under a lot of pressure from the state. He is also known for his generosity in his ancestral town, Abba. In the Christmas, Kambili and her family goes to Abba. Her close family makes a feast that feeds the whole family. Papa calls his father a heathen because he still holds on to the old religious traditions of his people. He does not let Jaja and Kambili visit his father for long. His sister thinks he is treating their father wrong, but Papa refuses to support his father unless he becomes a catholic. Aunty Ifeomas university town Nsukka is different from what Jaja and Kambili are used to. Power blackouts, rising food prices and fuel shortages are normal in Nsukka. Aunty Ifeoma teaches and encourages her children to question authority. Ifeoma wanted Jaja, Kambili and her own children to get to know each other better so she persuades Papa to stay with her for a week. They end up living there for longer than that. Just like her former classmates Kambili is being looked at as a snob by Amaka. Kambili stays silent in Nsukka. Kambili meets father Amadi who tells her to say what she has on her mind. Amaka and Kambili becomes friends. Papa-Nnukwu becomes ill and Ifeoma takes her in to the apartment so he can stay there. They do not tell Papa in fear that he will have them sent back. Papa eventually finds out that Papa-Nnukwu has been staying there and he takes his kids back home he punishes them for staying with him by pouring hot water on their feet. Papa is being pressured by the state because of his newspaper. Ade Coker gets captured by soldiers again and tortured. The standard is being raided and shut down. Ade Coker is thereafter killed by the government. Papa beats Kambili and she ends up in the hospital. Kambili goes to Nsukku to stay with her aunt after being released from the hospital. Aunty Ifeoma gets fired and travels to America to teach. Papa beats Mama again and she shows up in Nnukwu. When Mama goes home she starts poisoning Papas tea, in Easter Mama calls and tells them that Papa is dead. Kambilis big brother Jaja takes the blame and goes to jail. Three years later visit Jaja in prison where he has been living under terrible conditions. Jajas lawyers are sure that they will be able to get him released. Kambili is very happy, but Jaja does not seem to believe it himself. She wants to travel and visit Aunty Ifeoma. In the end of the book Kambili says Silence hangs over us now, but it is a different kind of silence. One that lets me breathe. I have nightmares about the other kind, the silence of when Papa was alive. In my nightmares, it mixes with shame and grief and so many other things that I cannot name, and forms blue tongues of fire that rest above my head, like Pentecost, until I wake up screaming and sweating.

How Far Did Martin Luther King Further the Cause of Civil Rights Essay

Dr. Martin luther king is one of the most famous civil rights activists in America to date. However, the importance of his legacy has been debated over how important really was he to the civil rights movement. I personally his movement was a key catalyst for the acquiring of equal civil rights in America. Martin Luther King’s peculiar method of campaigning gained him a large amount of white sympathizers to the civil rights cause. This support, which included President Johnson as a supporter; proved a great asset to the success of the civil rights movement, which highlights King’s importance. His use of peaceful campaigning put the activists on a moral high ground against the police and authorities trying to physically stop them. King being a Christian Pastor, used his acquired rhetoric to communicate the moral issues of his campaigns to the largely Christian white Americans. His importance is clearly evident as had he not tried to communicate to the masses on a religious level, support for the civil rights movement would be very small outside African American community. Perhaps a more militant approach like that of the Black Panthers would have proven a possible hindrance to the success of the civil rights movement as sympathy from white people and moral justification would be eradicated. This is why the work of Martin Luther King could be considered very important to the civil rights movement. Another reason why Martin Luther King’s contributions could be considered very important is due to King’s character and personality. He was like a spokesman for the movement. His impressive oration skills granted him a large audience on which he could lay down his ideas. Civil Rights was mostly associated with him and his personality gave him connection to many people within the political spectrum. King had an inspirational factor to his speeches, as seen during the March On Washington where he delivered his famed ‘I have a dream’ speech in front of 250,000 spectators. His popularity on a national level meant the government had to change their actics in regards to civil rights as upheaval may follow. In this sense, King forced the government to speed up the laws of civil rights, such as the Civil Rights Act of 1964. King’s flair for words and his personality made his a valuable element to the entire civil rights movement; his popularity gave him audience with President Kennedy, who eventually supported King. This is why he could be seen as have important contributions to the civil rights movement. As far as King’s work may have lead the civil rights movement, he can still be considered not that important in the grand scheme of things. Some of his ideas and methods were not supported by some members of the civil rights movement. His peaceful methods were rejected by some African Americans – some of who were involved in the Watts Summer Riots and wished to pursue liberty through violent means. Groups such as Nation Of Islam and Black Panthers labelled King as an ‘uncle tom’- a man who worked for the white people and not his own. This hate towards King made his work less important as opposition decreases his support and gave him enemies within members of the movement itself. Furthermore, King’s speeches were heavily Christianity-based. Although they fitted the majority of citizens, who were mostly Christian, some people were not so his ideas were not understood and accepted very well. In this aspect of things, opponents of King and those who he did not represent made his contributions less important. All in all, King’s contributions largely were very significant and important in the Civil Rights movement, his borrowed methods of peaceful protest , along with his oration skills and inspirational attitude ensured his work is probably the most single significant aspect of the entire movement. Despite not representing some members from the civil rights community, his legacy is very famous. The most important aspect of his work is his use of moral defences against authorities, his pacifism gave him support from the biggest politic figureheads and therefore his work undoubtedly was very important.

Daniel Libeskind - The Jewish Museum in Berlin - 1843 Words

The success of architects is defined not so much by the problems they face as the act of their creative and practical responses. Located in once the bombarded Berlin, a new language of architecture emerged. It appears with multiple contradictions, yet not confliction, from itself to the surroundings and within its own construction. That is the Berlin Jewish Museum, submitted by the young Daniel Libeskind in a competition to provoke the unsavory history of Berlin very soon after the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989. The Western tradition in building museum is twisted by its expressionistic form, not merely to house the remains, the relics, the display of art, it stands by itself naked, untreated to house the ghost of German Judaism, a†¦show more content†¦The intention is to make occupants feel physically ill and all of its effects. Precast and cast in-place concrete are customized in tube-like structures which slope variably to resist lateral loads stabilizing the vertical el ements. At some strategic locations with severely angled walls, pre-stressed steel reinforced concrete is an absolute option. Steel is used to bear compressive loads as well as tensile loads. The vertical elements are tied together with beams and slabs which prevent them from cracking. The monolithic appearance and the complication in opening positions and dimensions require a high level of difficulty in pouring concrete, which make this museum become the first model project of its kind to test the new concrete-handling method. The challenge is to avoid segregation in pouring concrete. Timing is the key. The exterior walls are molded with in-situ concrete; the advantage it offers is that the apertures can be made in any shape and size, width and height. It also allows a less amount of columns used, and an expansion for larger, uninterrupted spaces. The extra strength the reinforced concrete gives grants Libeskind the ability to make the concept practical. Also, to maintain the integrity of the â€Å"object,† he eliminated conventional roof system, lightweight enclosing, and exposed framework matrix as if all structural members merge in one entity which makes theShow MoreRelatedThe Death Of The Weimar Republic1185 Words   |  5 Pages For now, I’m going to leave the Reichstag wrapped up, and move onto Libeskind’s Jewish museum. Over history it could be argued that the Jews have been the most persecuted religion. This is of course true in Germany. In German history the Jews have being accused of poisoning wells and causing the black death, despite the Jews suffering equally from the disease! The Jews were also accused for the loss of the First World War, despite the Jews having the largest proportional of any religious groupRead MoreThe Legacy Of Daniel Libeskind2248 Words   |  9 Pages Daniel Libeskind was born in Lodz, Poland on May 12, 1946, to Polish-Jewish parents the year after World War II ended. His parents were Holocaust survivors, but living in postwar Eastern Europe they found that the formal end of the Holocaust did not bring an end to Anti-Semitism violence. As Libeskind told Stanley Meisler of the Smithsonian, â€Å"Anti-Semitism is the only memory I still have of Poland. In school. On the streets. It wasn t what most people think happened after the war was over. It wasRead MoreThe Lack Of A Central Holocaust Memorial1621 Words   |  7 PagesGerman government decides that the memorial should be devoted only to Jewish victims of the Holocaust and designates a prominent location in the center of the newly-unified city of Berlin: The five-acre site will lie due south of the Brandenburg Gate, which until 1989 had divided East and West Berlin. The site is also just a few steps from the buried remains of the bunker where Adolf Hitler committed suicide. Amidst the Berlin s tremendous construction boom (which garnered it the nickname EuropeRead MoreThe Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe2474 Words   |  10 PagesThe Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, also known as the Holocaust Memorial, is a monument in Berlin to commemorate the Jewish victims of the Holocaust. The Memorial for the Murdered Jews of Europe causes us to reflect on how the transgressive ges ture of architecture puts the issue of balance between the medium and the message into question. The memorial could have been viewed as a way to threaten the importance of remembrance. According to Elke Grenzer, â€Å"Architecture itself in a commemorativeRead MoreDigital Fabrications Architectural And Material Techniques2121 Words   |  9 Pagesand then becomes ceiling in one simple motion. Another great example of the use of folds are the wrapped metal corner panels of The Jewish Museum in Berlin, Germany, by Daniel Libeskind. The titanium plates zigzag and fold throughout the faà §ade, these folds are expressed in the interior by the angled walls and underground axes. Thanks to the folding technique Libeskind is able to hide the individual floors from the outside, the crisscrossing of the windows seem therefore unsystematic and it helps create

Continental Marines Essays - 1245 Words

On November 10th, 1775, the Continental Congress passed a resolution that stated two Battalions of Marines be raised, which established the Continental Marines, and is now considered the birth date of the Marines. The newly formed Continental Marines served on both land and sea, and took part in many major engagements, which helped establish them as an important branch of the Armed Forces. The first Commandant of the Continental Marines was Captain Samuel Nicholas, who was born in Philadelphia in 1744. He was commissioned to be a â€Å"Captain of Marines† by the 2nd Continental Congress on November 5th 1775. Nicholas soon established Tun Tavern as the recruiting headquarters. Tun Tavern’s owner, Robert Mullen, was so successful at recruiting†¦show more content†¦Shortly after, Captain Samuel Nicholas is promoted to Major. In December 1776, the Marines joined Washington’s army at Trenton to help slow the progress of British Troops through New Jersey. Washington was unsure what to do with the Marines, so he added them to a brigade of Philadelphia militia. Although the Marines were unable to arrive in time to greatly affect the Battle of Trenton, they played a part in the American victories in both the Battles of Assunpink Creek and Princeton. At the end of the American Revolution in 1783, both the Continental Marines and Continental Navy were disbanded. The Alliance was sold, and the last official act of the Continental Marines was to escort a stash of French silver crowns on loan from Louis XVI from Boston to Philadelphia. Some individual Marines stayed on the few American naval vessels left, but the last Continental Marine was discharged in April. In 1798, the Marines are reformed as the Unites States Marine Corps, with William Ward Burrows as the Second Commandant. Under the Act for establishing and organizing a Marine Corps†, which was signed by President John Adams on July 11th 1798, the new Marine Corps was to be made up of a battalion of 500 privates, who would be lead by a Major and a group of Privates and NCOs. The next day, Burrows was promoted to the rank of Major. The new Marine Corps soon found itself in the middle of the Barbary Pirates War. The war was started afterShow MoreRelatedThe History Of The Airline Industry935 Words   |  4 Pageswhile other airlines have become very successful. One airline that has been able to make air travel a profitable business is Continental Airlines. Continental Airlines was founded in 1934 as a very prosperous company and over their colorful 64-year history has experienced both tremendous success and extreme difficulty. Walter Varney and Louis Mueller originally founded Continental Airlines as Varney Speed Lines. The concept of their company was to operate airmail and passenger services in the AmericanRead MoreComparing The Revolutionary War And The Modern Soldier1671 Words   |  7 Pagesarmy. The American revolutionary army came in two forms, the continental army and the militia. The continental army was trained regiments of soldiers from each state, although North Carolina was asked to provide two regiments of soldiers, which eventually turned into ten by the end of the war, they were called the North Carolina Brigade and along with the rest of the continental army were the main force against the British. The continental army soldiers were supplied with equipment equal to that ofRead MoreThe Importance of Flag Detail in the Military Essay911 Words   |  4 Pagestwo entities together as one. Without the American flag’s representation, the Army has no purpose; no means to exist. The first American flag was introduced in May of 1976 in which Betsy Ross reported her creating it. On June 14, 1977, the Continental Congress passed the Flag Act to establish the set design of the United States flag. After the delegation, the original flag consisted of thirteen, red and white alternating stripes and thirteen, white stars in a blue field which was the number ofRead MoreThe Negro in the American Revolution Essays1353 Words   |  6 Pagesdistinguished heroes at the Battle of Bunker Hill was Peter Salem who fired the shot that killed Major John Pictcarirn of the Royal Marines. But Peter Salem was not the only African American hero during the Revolutionary War. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Another African American, Salem Poor, also made a hero of himself at Bunker Hill. Several officers to the Continental Congress commended him for his bravery at the battle. This honor encouraged African Americans to take part in the war. Pomp FiskRead MoreGeorge Washington, The Great American Leader1544 Words   |  7 Pagescrossed the Delaware River on Christmas day 1776 and after. George Washington was very committed to his army. But at first it looked very irrational to transport 2,400 continental soldiers across an icy cold river through a heavy storm. But Washington’s action was â€Å"based on strategic motivation†(Lass). Washington saw that the Continental army really needed a victory after a long time of defeats and no major victories. He understood that they needed the element of surprise to defeat the Hessian mercenariesRead MoreWomen During The Revolutionary War1197 Words   |  5 Pagesserve. After trying her disguise out and not ge tting caught she enlisted, in the spring of 1781. Deborah served under Captain George Webb’s Company of Light Infantry, for seventeen months, she performed as Robert Samson. She was a member of the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War. Deborah had a few trying times during her role as Robert. She was wounded twice during the war. In June of 1782, while leading thirty other infantrymen they became engaged, in one-on-one combat, with a band loyalistsRead MoreWhy America Still Have A Need For A Marine Corps1076 Words   |  5 Pagesaccomplish ground missions similar to the Marine Corps, then why does America still have a need for a Marine Corps. It is because Marines train for the worst possible outcomes by keeping one step in front of the enemy and the Marines act as quick reaction force capable of scaling its size to handle whatever the immediate threat presents. Why does America still have a need for a Marine Corps? Since 1775, the Nation has called upon the Army and Marines to defend its borders and protect its shoresRead MoreHistory Of The Army Corps957 Words   |  4 Pagespaper will cover the history of the Army NCO, contributions, and evolution of the Army NCO. History An NCO is referred as a military officer who is yet to earn a commission. The history of the NCO began during early 1775 after the inception of the Continental Army (Arms, 2007). The concept came about following the blueprint of the legionaries that previously served in the Roman Empire. The model of the NCO is a blend of the frameworks of the Prussian, British, and French armies. Consequently, theRead MoreA Woman’s Retrospective of the American Revolution Essay2537 Words   |  11 Pagesin the Continental Army for a period of six months or more. These acts supplanted Sarah Benjamins case because applicants no longer required disability or monetary status for approval, as well as allowing widows married at the time of the war to be eligible for full payments1. While the history of Revolutionary War pensions is quite rich and intriguing, what is most enriching over the course of the study of this document is the incredibly vivid and accurate account of life in Continental Army campsRead MoreThe American Of Canadian Foreign Relations3505 Words   |  15 PagesAnother reason why the Americans failed to Conquer Canada was because there conflict within the United States itself, and thus, operations did not always run as smoothly as George Washington had hoped for. In 1775, George Washington took over the Continental Army and tried to organize troops and forces identical to the British. This however, was a lot harder than Washington anticipated. Since the Americans distanced themselves and ultimately detached from the British control and Empire, there was a

America Is A Nation That Created By Settlers And Immigrants

Being an American is different from being a citizen of any other country for numerous reasons. America is a nation that was created by settlers and immigrants; it boasts an inherently diverse assemblage of citizens, unlike many other countries in the world. It’s a country that was built by people with a distinct set of values that honor an individual’s â€Å"God-given† rights; a set of values that further shaped how the world came to understand and view humanity. Admittedly, what I’ve come to learn about America feels fairly distant, as America has grown and changed throughout the centuries, and the nation itself is constantly changing and reshaping. There are, however, some distinctions that American citizens have that set us apart from other countries in the world. In many ways there is a lot of self-definition that comes with being an American. Unlike being Korean or Russian or any other nationality, the label American transcends specific cultural gu idelines and boarders. American’s do not share one, singular, common ancestry, as most Anglo-Americans in Europe do, or natural born Koreans, or Arabs do. In these countries there is a distinct difference between culture and society. Within these countries, foreign born immigrants are never fully able to integrate into the culture. In these countries, immigrants will always remain foreigners. In many ways, the concept of an â€Å"immigrant† in America is ludicrous since there are not any specific inbred qualities thatShow MoreRelatedImmigration During The Late 1800 s And Early 1900 S1269 Words   |  6 Pagessame reason. All these immigrants come from their different backgrounds and places. These immigrants also have struggled when they first get here, but something they can all agree on is that they came here for one main reason and that’s for advanced improvement especially economic. Immigration in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s is much different than today, especially of what country they are coming from. In the late 1800’s and early 1900’s most immigrants came from Europe, andRead MoreManifest Destiny And Westward Expansion Essay1447 Words   |  6 Pages1) OUTLINE: I. Topic sentence. Manifest destiny and westward expansion was a tremendous key component to the growth of the nation economically because of the impact it had on native americans, women empowerment, and expanding the population of the country. II. Significance of topic. Americans looked towards the western lands as an opportunity for large amounts of free land, for growth of industry, and pursue the manifest destiny. III. List of evidence related to topic. The railwaysRead MoreThe Colonization And Settlement Of The Plains Region Of Canada Essay1270 Words   |  6 Pagesa short background. The technology brought across the ocean made life in North America vastly different than it had been before. Population began growing after people stopped fearing the frontier. The present is vastly different than the past, so a change must have occurred. Canada, the country as we know it today, began on July 1st, 1867. Before then, Canada was made up of two distinct cultures. The First Nations peoples, who had been there for at least 17,000 years BP (â€Å"before present†) (DickasonRead MoreManifest Destiny Essay1254 Words   |  6 PagesStates would never have the ideology that created American history. The United States expanded to many different areas, but one of the biggest expansions was to the five southeastern Indian nations. The idea of Manifest Destiny and Indian removal set the course to guide the nation to where it is today. Manifest Destiny has its origins immediately after the American Revolution. After the war ended, there was a growing desire for more territory in America. The United States had control of land upRead MoreThe Progressive Era Essay1133 Words   |  5 Pageshistory of America and it has its influence in the attractiveness of the nation. The progressive era was from 1870 to 1916 which entered the period of urbanization in the United States. In the 19th century, a lot of European immigrants came into the States and this aided the speedy industrialization, people moved away from rural era without hesitation. In 1910, progressive era was the political movement of group of people who were ready to turn the social and political life of America around. ItRead MoreImportance Of American Identity1547 Words   |  7 Pagescontent, research, and interviews the American Identity can best be described using the words freedom, pride, and importance. When America formed, people immigrated to this c ountry in search of freedom. America is built on the basic principle of freedom. One of the main reasons people immigrate to America from their home country is because of all the freedoms we have. America is thought of as the land of free. There is freedom of education, religion, expression, speech, and belief. Though we are builtRead MoreAnalysis Of Colin Calloway s The First Colonies 1539 Words   |  7 Pagesknow more about how the European people and Native Americans cooperated or interacted with one another in America s first years. Thesis of Calloway’s Text Despite the fact that many American people believe that the establishment of the first colonies exemplifies the origins of the United States as a nation, Early America was affluent long before the Europeans came in and created the America that we know today . Throughout this well-established country, the Native American people had formulated long-lastingRead MoreHistory of Early North American Colonies Essay825 Words   |  4 Pagesto flee negative societal aspects, and the search for religious freedoms. Originally discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1492 in search for a trade route to Cathay (China), North America remained uninhabited, excluding the Native American establishments. Following this discovery, Spain –along with other European nations such as France, England, Sweden and the Netherlands– soon began the expedition to the new land with vast expectations. Driven by economic, societal, and religious purposes, the NewRead MoreThe Official Definition Of Illega l Is â€Å"Contrary To Or Forbidden1517 Words   |  7 Pagesis â€Å"contrary to or forbidden by law†. The definition of an Immigrant is â€Å"an individual who comes to live permanently in a foreign country†. Therefore Illegal Immigrants are foreigners who enter another country, the United States of America, without a Visa. They cross the border by avoiding inspection and overstay the allotted period of time allowed as a visitor, tourist, or businessperson. There are 12 million illegal immigrants in America today. How is the possible if it is illegal? And more importantlyRead MoreThe United States is a Nation of Immigrants Essays1658 Words   |  7 Pages Today the United States of America is regarded as a global economic leader. The standard of living in the U.S. is higher than that of most other nations. Our nation is considered an economic super-power. Economic needs have often caused Americans to seek immigrants as workers, and economic opportunities have attracted foreigners. The United States is a nation of immigrants. Our nation has been shaped by successive waves of immigrants who have played major roles in our changing economy. The

How Should Social Networks Be Utilized in the Workplace Free Essays

How could these social networking sites be a threat to a company’s security? In today’s world it seems the human race could not live without information technology in the workplace. More importantly, social networks like Facebook and Twitter are becoming very popular tools for business development in today’s world. There are dozens of social network sites and more popping up every day. We will write a custom essay sample on How Should Social Networks Be Utilized in the Workplace? or any similar topic only for you Order Now It is astounding the number of hours that people waste on such sites. Updating, checking in and sending out bits and blurbs about every little aspect of one’s life seems cheap. More astounding than individuals wasting time on these things is that businesses are also wasting time on them. Actual megabuck businesses are in on the whole social networking shtick. The challenge for the business world is how to utilize these social networks effectively and safely. The value of social networks and how they can benefit businesses has been in question recently. Also in question is do these social networks create a security risk with employees conveying possibly privileged information to a friend or relative through Facebook or Twitter. How does a company prevent potential security risks? They have to block social networking sites or grant limited access to specific departments. Metro Business College prevents students from accessing social networking sites on school computers but allows faculty and staff to access from their desk computers. Metro’s reasoning is students should be at school to learn, not stare at Facebook all class period. The question then is not are these sights a security risk but rather are these sites a huge time suck for employees which creates a reduction in productivity? The biggest risk a company a company faces is how employees that utilize these sights can make their company look and what effects it could possibly have on their reputation. How social networking can tarnish the reputation of a company or enhance it. Unfortunately, there is a downside to social networking. It is essentially an open forum and anyone can say and post anything on a company’s page. For the most part, it is potentially dangerous to a company’s reputation. Due to this fact, a company’s networking site should have limited access when it pertains to posting information. Take, for instance, a recent report on The Springfield Brewery in Springfield, Missouri. The social media specialist posted a humorous joke to its Facebook page and unfortunately it was met with several disgruntled comments. Several customers stated they would never â€Å"step foot n the restaurant again†. [ (Pettit, 2013) ] It is bad press such as that over such a small comment that could potentially destroy a company. On the other hand there are companies like Tupperware that use social networking internally to boost the pride employees have for the company, the attachment an employee feels and fun an employee has while at work. [ (Huy, 2012) ] After adopting these social media con cepts the turnover rate fell by fifteen percent and a webcast created new sales of $700,000 in just three days. (Huy, 2012) ] Sometimes social media can create opportunities for companies that they normally would not have and it is the companies that are willing to evolve and understand the importance of social networking that will survive. Another company that utilizes social networking site is Metro Business College they found that websites such as Facebook and Twitter can be excellent recruiting tools and also they are useful to keep track of their student body and possibly help them if they have issues with homework or even personal problems. Social networking can be an invaluable tool to an organization if utilized properly and monitored by administrators to prevent potentially damaging posts or comments. How to make social networking work for the greater good of the company LinkedIn can be a valuable tool. Resumes can be posted there which can be utilized by human resources departments for recruiting purposes. Potential employees post their profiles there, which also can be utilized by the human resources department to check the character of a potential recruit. Slovensky, 2012) Some companies are requiring potential employees to provide human resources access to their Facebook pages so they can see the character of the candidate. Companies post jobs on networking sites like LinkedIn and Facebook which can benefit other companies to view how their competition is doing, if they are posting new positions then that company is most likely in a state of growth. People looking for jobs are on these sights and they provide all the information a potential employer needs to make an informed hiring decision. When it comes to professional social networking, LinkedIn is the most successful site of its kind. It is better than Facebook or Twitter because it eliminates the everyday social aspect, including the posting of how one’s morning breakfast made them feel and the LOLs. Another benefit of LinkedIn is that all discussions and groups are moderated. Nonsense is kept to a minimum. Rarely does one have to deal with spam or irritation there. It is a safe haven for serious social networking, for serious business connection building and for serious relationship building. However, there are benefits to using networking sites like Facebook as well. After all, Facebook does have 175 million members according to an article called Inside Facebook written in 2009. Maintaining the strategic advantage through e-business and social networking The questions a company must ask are:  To how many social networks do you belong? How valuable are they to you? If they went away tomorrow, would you feel any impact to your business? A simple answer is that individuals should choose one or two professional networks and farm those like any other social networking situation. Leave the shot gunning to the amateurs. Make connections that count. 10,000 â€Å"Likes† do not mean anything if they are not buying, reading, recommending or influencing. Companies should not waste your time with such pursuits. The return on investment is not high enough. Mass mailings do not work. Certain types of advertising just do not work for some businesses. Building relationships with clients is the most important aspect of any business and that is best done through human contact not a mass email. Do not rely on flash-in-the-pan online social networks to build your business. Clients and potential clients like to know that there’s a 98. 6 degree hand on the other end of those messages and not a piece of software. It might sound old-fashioned and outdated but there is nothing like true social networking to build a business. A company builds a business through building relationships. Studies have shown that relying on social networks to create strong ties actually has the opposite effect and instead weakens them. Facebook is a good example of a social networking site that creates weak ties (Jennifer, 2010). Instead of creating direct networks among its participants, the social networking site creates sub-networks. With no direct link to the company or the issue at hand it can create weaker ties and a customer that does not show as much company loyalty. (Slovensky, 2012) In the end it does not matter how the company views social networking but how the customer base views that company’s use of these social networking sites. If they are well monitored and provide password protected use for a limited amount of employees then it can be beneficial. However, the biggest issue most companies face is that one instance when something is posted that causes a security breach or something is posted that hurts the company’s reputation. They then have to answer the question, what do we do next? Social networking is not going anywhere in fact it is growing everyday with new sites popping up all of the time and companies that want to survive will need to get on board. References Huy, Q. . (2012). The key to social media success within organizations. MIT SLoan Management Review , 54 (1), 73-81. Jennifer, S. (2010). Planning in the age of facebook: the role of social networking in planning processes. GeoJournal , 75 (5), 407-420. Slovensky, R. . (2012). Should human resource managers use social media to screen job applicants? managerial and legal issues in the USA. Ifno: The Journal of Policy, Regulation and Strategy for Telecommunications, Information and Media , 14 (1), 55-69. How to cite How Should Social Networks Be Utilized in the Workplace?, Papers

Business Project Management Organization Planner

Question: Describe about the Business Project Management for Organization Planner. Answer: Case Study 1 Summary of the Case Study The case study revolves around the project named as Rockn Bands which is being managed by the organization Planners 'R Us. The organization has had past experience of managing the projects under various categories such as software development, construction projects, conference management etc. Rockn Bands is a project in a newer category and will be handled by the organization for the first time. There are twelve activities that are required to be covered during the project life cycle with three activities as starting points and all twelve shall be completed in a period of ten weeks. The case study presents the cost that is associated with the resources and the total cost of the project along with the details on penalties and late delivery of the final project deliverables as well. Key Issues The major issues that have been seen in the case study are associated with the project schedule, project budget and resource management. The project is a short term project of 10 weeks and the schedule and budget are the major constraints that are associated with the project. There is a lot of extra cost involved in the project which has come up as a striking issue and the deviation from the determined budget and schedule can also cause some major penalties. The time frame of the project is limited to ten weeks; however, there is an involvement of a number of third parties which can cause delays in terms of response and delivery. Such occurrences may also be significant to the project progress and project delivery. Lessons Learned The most valuable lessons that are acquired from the case study are the project management knowledge areas as cost management, time management and human resource management. These three areas need to be monitored, analyzed and planned accurately to avoid any potential risk to the project in terms of schedule overrun, budget overrun, resource scarcity and likewise. The case study also focuses upon the need and significance of management and managerial abilities in all these areas. It is necessary to include scheduling and budgeting in the planning phase of the project and also ensuring contract management with the supplier and vendors so that any of the legal penalties can be avoided and handled with ease (Carr, 2016). Application of Lessons Learned The lessons that are acquired through the case study can be applied in the present in the daily activities such as budget creation and maintenance at home along with the following of a designated schedule in personal and professional world. In the past, these areas could have been applied at home and at work for better cost and time management. These can also be applied in future in the routine tasks and activities at the workplace and at home as well (Hall, 2016). Factors that may cause Issues in Applying the Lessons There may be factors such as absence of resources in bulk or mis-happening at home or workplace that may hinder the application of budgeting, schedule maintenance and resource management. There may also be lesser contribution from peers and supervisors at work who may be unaware of the benefits of these three areas. Similar Lessons and Experiences There were projects in the past at the workplace that faced heavy penalties as they could not meet the deadlines that were promised. Also, there were situations of resource borrowing and lending that has been experienced at the workplace that is similar to the ones highlighted in the case study. There have also been cases associated with the positive customer feedback due to the maintenance of designed schedule and budget. There are also a number of Project Management Methodologies that lay focus on the three aspects as time, cost and resources along with their management that are connected with the lessons that were acquired from the case study (Atkinson, 2016). Change in Ideas The subjects that have been covered in the case study have allowed enhanced knowledge and awareness on the project management areas as time management, cost management and resource management. It was earlier assumed that project management restricted to the activities around resources, their monitoring and review of the activities. The same has been changed with the knowledge regarding other areas where project management is essential (Saputra and Latiffianti, 2015). Gaps and Areas of Improvement There are improvements required in the knowledge and skills associated with a number of automated tools that are now available for project management in the areas of cost, time and resource management. For instance, there are tools that can auto-generate the budget after keying in the project details or represents project schedule in the form of a chart and provides details on effort estimation as well. Case Study 2 Summary of the Case Study The case study is prepared for the Quantum Bank Inc. which is a regional bank and has a number of different branches in the southeast region. The bank launched its web site in the year 1999 and with the advancement of technology and the expansion of services, it is necessary to implement some major up-gradations to the web site. Stacey Thomas is the Vice President of the bank and has been given the responsibility to select the Project Manager for the project who believes in staffing the project internally rather than acquiring external support. Stacy has two options to select from for the role of Project Manager. Bill Fence, a computer science graduate is one of the options for the role and has the skills such as in-depth technical knowledge, past experience, managerial and leadership skills required for the same. The second option is Andy Dover, a civil engineering graduate with skills as high competency, amazing communication abilities, very basic technical knowledge and team colla boration skills. Key Issues The primary issues that have been encountered from the case study are in terms of a required mix of skills set for the role of Project Manager. The roles and responsibilities of the manager in a project are extremely critical and important and it is necessary to have a right person appointed for the same. There may be impacts of the incorrect decisions made by the senior management that may affect the project progress adversely (Petty, 2016). Lessons Learned The most important lesson that has been acquired through the case study is in terms of the skills that are necessary for the present day Project Manager. The manager should possess skills such as managerial abilities, communication skills, negotiations capabilities, team cooperation and collaboration skills along with a decent technical background to understand the project activities (Marando, 2012). Application of Lessons Learned The lessons that have been acquired from the case study can be directly applied to the professional roles and responsibilities by acquiring the required skill set in all of the managerial tasks so that the success of the project can be ensured. These lessons also apply to the daily routine and day to day activities as it is necessary to have a perfect mix of management and leadership in all walks of life. Factors that may cause Issues in Applying the Lessons There may be a certain set of factors that may prove to be a cause of hindrance in the application of the lessons that have been acquired. The primary factor may be lesser support from the senior management and preference to the age old managers over the modern day requirements for the resource. There may also be cases wherein technical abilities may be required more than the other skills mentioned for the role of the Project Manager. Similar Lessons and Experiences Project manager is a resource that is present in almost all the projects. There have been cases in the past wherein the projects have not managed to succeed due to unskilled manager and the resources were also not optimally utilized. There have also been cases wherein the Project Manager made it possible to pull of the project with success by the application of the required skills at the accurate time. Change in Ideas Project Manager is an integral part of project management and the case study enabled it to understand the importance and significance of the resource and its skill set in the project. There is a shift from the management skills that were demanded few years back and the ones that are required in the present day projects. The manager shall have a correct mix of skills so that the project success can be assured (Gillard, 2009). Gaps and Areas of Improvement There are a number of project management tools that are available in the current scenario along with a number or project management methodologies that can be studied, applied and followed in the projects to manage the activities with perfection. It is essential to gain knowledge and skills on these two areas for better management of the projects. References Atkinson, R. (2016). Project management: cost, time and quality, two best guesses and a phenomenon, its time to accept other success criteria. [online] Available at: https://notendur.hi.is/vio1/Project_management_Cost_time_and_quality.pdf [Accessed 14 Oct. 2016]. Carr, R. (2016). Cost, Schedule, and Time Variances and Integration. [online] Available at: https://www4.hcmut.edu.vn/~ndlong/TK/mat/BaiBao-BaiTapNhom/Nhom06.pdf [Accessed 14 Oct. 2016]. Gillard, S. (2009). Soft Skills and Technical Expertise of Effective Project Managers. [online] Available at: https://iisit.org/Vol6/IISITv6p723-729Gillard599.pdf [Accessed 14 Oct. 2016]. Hall, K. (2015). Perceptions of Time, Cost and Quality Management on building projects. [online] Available at: https://www.icoste.org/ICMJ%20Papers/AJCEBVol2No2Bowen.pdf [Accessed 14 Oct. 2016]. Marando, A. (2012). Balancing Project Management Hard Skills and Soft Skills. [online] Available at: https://projectmgmt.brandeis.edu/downloads/BRU_MSMPP_WP_Feb2012_Balancing_Project_Management.pdf [Accessed 14 Oct. 2016]. Petty, A. (2016). Leadership The Project Manager Developing the Skills that Fuel High Performance. [online] Available at: https://artpetty.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/ldrshipandprojmgrfinal.pdf [Accessed 14 Oct. 2016]. Saputra, Y. and Latiffianti, E. (2015). Project Reliability Model Considering Time Cost Resource Relationship under Uncertainty. Procedia Computer Science, 72, pp.561-568.