David cole interviews dr. franciszek piper ( RESPOND ) Movie Review

David cole interviews dr. franciszek flute player ( RESPOND ) - Movie Review Example The point Cole attempts to make here is that the vast majority of the proof and realities about mass murders at Auschwitz were either wrong or overstated by the Soviet Union to serve their publicity during the hour of war and how for a bigger scope, statistical data points of war have been controlled for the triumphant. Cole’s narrative inquiries different undisputed realities and brings up the abnormalities in what has become an obvious piece of mankind's history. His meeting with Senior Curator and Head of Archives at Auschwitz State Museum Dr. Franciszek Piper uncovers some fascinating and simultaneously conflicting data about the camp and the gas chamber that was utilized for mass manslaughter. After his visit to the camp in 1992 and dependent on long periods of exploration, Cole sees that Piper’s adaptation of the gas chamber tasks, its reproduction by the Soviet Union, and the utilization of Zyklon B are conflicting and exceptionally far from being obviously true. Cole says that the Soviets misrepresented realities bringing the loss of life to 4 million when the truth was just 1.1 and a significant part of the confirmations set forward during the Nuremberg preliminary were undermined later on or saw as bogus. Cole opines that if Hess was hanged for running an internment camp in Auschwitz where individuals kicked the bucket of malady and lack of healthy sustenance, at that point the a large number of Japanese who passed on in the United States and the Germans executed in the post war POW camp under comparative conditions ought to likewise be made responsible. At long last he proposes that atrocities don't have simple and legitimate answers without raising

Religious Influence in Western Civilization Sample Essay Example For Students

Strict Influence in Western Civilization Sample Essay Religion plays a huge persuasive factor in the improvement of the western civilisation. A significant effect on this advancement is the means by which Christianity changed the Roman Empire. The congregation began in Jerusalem with the 12 missionaries essentially making missional work. furthermore, Christians like Paul were seeing to God-fearers. individuals who appreciated Judaic monotheism however thought the Judaic statute was unreasonably requesting. Paul clarified that they could venerate a similar God without the Judaic statute. furthermore, during this clasp of sharing the Gospel. Christians were being mistreated here and there by rulers, for example, Roman Emperor Nero. It turned into a more awful worry for Christians as Emperor Diocletian required the primary methodical oppression of Christians during his supposition. These were intense occasions for Christians. yet, they remained dedicated to there confidence and to God. Before long Christianity was made lawful and was made the solitary legitimate confidence in the Roman Empire at the clasp. This shows how Christians molded the Roman Empire from being abhorred and mistreated to doing Christianity the solitary lawful confidence in the Roman Empire. After the harvest time of the Roman Empire in 476 A. D. . otherworldly honesty was lost. A wide range of religions other than Christianity begin to go well known, for example, Islam. Judaism. Buddhism. what's more, Hinduism. These beliefs molded people groups lives since every one of them had there ain set way of thinking or certain guidelines to populate by. This decent variety of beliefs later causes numerous battles the same number of the religions safeguard what they accept. Other than. Christianity begins to get wound around to going a greater amount of a significant figure to individuals. The congregation going a significant figure is spoken to when Pope Leo III crowns Charlemagne as Holy Roman Emperor. This was a milepost in history since he was the main head of the West in 300 mature ages. also, in fact. the eastern ruler can simply do the assurance of coronating the western sovereign. Other than. when King Edward the Confessor passed on. he required individual to assume control over his tossed. The Catholic Church supported William of Normady so he was considered in the blend of who might assume control over the tossed. These condition of affairss show that confidence was utilized for force and approval after the harvest time of Rome. Religion impacted the advancement of the Western Civilization in what beliefs were polished. how people’s lives spun around confidence. furthermore, how confidence was being abused as clasp passed by.

Interview with Alex Taussig from Highland Capital Partners

Interview with Alex Taussig from Highland Capital Partners INTRODUCTIONMartin: Hi, today we are in  Menlo Park,  in the Highland Capital Partners office with Alex. Alex, who are you and what do you do?Alex: Haha Hi, good to have you guys here. My name is Alex Taussig, Im a ventures capitals partner at Highland Capital Partners. We are a 26 year old venture capital firm with offices all around the world, and we invest in early stage technology companies. So, thats both enterprise companies, everything from infrastructure software to application software to consumer internet companies, market places, social media, all that kind of stuff. So, weve been around, as I said, for a while.In  Boston,  we have our offices where we started the firm. We also have our office out here, as well as in  Geneva  and in  Shanghai.Martin: Great! Awesome.Martin: Can you tell us a little bit about your background? What did you do before you started being a venture capitalist?Alex: So I have a bit of unconventional background in some sense. For a long time growing up, I thought I was going to be a professor. So I was on an academic track for the most of my life. Started labs when I was a teenager and did a lot different types of research expose into a lot of different technology in bioinformatics, computer vision. I ended up doing physics and materials engineering. Physics is an undergrad and then materials engineering as a grad student at MIT.It was some point during the grad school days, I got a little bit bored of research. Its a bit of a slower pace than we find in the startup world. And at the same time, Ive known a lot of folks that I went to college with at Harvard, who had come out to the Valley to start a companies or a lot of them at that point of time, theyre actually going to Microsoft and then come to the Valley. That would seem to be a lot of pattern. And I was at Harvard when Facebook started, so it was part of this generation of sort of new entrepreneurs and decided that I wanted to be part of that in someway. And at the time , someone had told me about venture capital, which is sort of this of interesting intermediary between people that make the technology and the financial markets. And having grown up in New York City, and been in around the finance community in my whole life, I thought it would be a nice marriage of my passions for sort of helping capitalized businesses and then also working with technologists to help bringing their stuff out of the lab, out of the confined of small, little dimly-lit rooms into the real world and serving customers. So I decided to venture capital, Id like to  learn more about what that was.So I ended up going to business school. I left MIT, got out of PhD program and decided to get a Masters instead, so I wrote my thesis. And then I went over to HBS,  Harvard  Business  School  and joined  Highland  out of business school.So Ive been with  Highland  for about 5.5 years now. And started working in our  Boston  office with one of our founders very closely. So that was sort of my apprenticeship, if you will. I worked very closely with him on a number of companies in the security software space, dataware housing. We invested in a robotics company, which I’m happy to talk about. Its pretty cool stuff.So we like really technically complex problems and really amazing engineering founders. And thats really what Ive been doing pretty much ever since. And I moved out here about 2.5 years ago to help build our West Coast office. And thats kind of what Ive been doing. But Im sort of a career venture capitalist and Im inspired by great innovations and great engineers. Id like to help them explore their transition from inventing great technology and moving it to the real world.Martin: Actually from my point of view, there are a lot of similarities between being a professor, entrepreneur or venture capitalist by building up hypothesis and testing them. The only thing is that, as a professor maybe you can only do the theoretical stuff, but as an entrepreneu r and a VC you also see the consequences.Alex: Well in a laboratory, you’re still isolated from the real world, you know. I worked on a project that was trying to create computer chips that ran on light. So, instead of electricity, the computer chip that runs on light. Thats a big idea, right. We were totally, I mean as a student I was totally unaware that Intel would just like totally control this market. Theres no hope for commercializing this technology as a small company.Had I known, had I come from the business background, I probably would have figured out earlier, right. But with that being said, you know, you do a lot of really cutting edge stuff in the lab, but you do it as sort of scale and with a sort of mentorship that doesnt really guide you down to the commercial route.  I think that we still have a lot of work to do on a model that transitions a laboratory research out into the real world. You know, Stanford over here has done a great job at it. MIT is doing a  good job, Harvard is doing a descent job, but there’s  still a lot of work to do. And I think coming from that world, I can I kind of walk in both pair of shoes if you will.I see some similarities, there’s a good amount of   hypothesis-driven testing you refer to, but the practicality is quite different. The emphasis here if its not valuable to customer, its not valuable to work on. Which is very different than academia.HIGHLAND CAPITAL PARTNERS INVESTMENT CRITERIAMartin: Let’s talk about Highland Capital Partners. What are the typical selection criteria for you to invest in a company? And maybe you can build some kind of matrix, depending on  ticket  size, industry, at what stage is the company, etc.Alex: Lots of different venture firms have different approaches. I think, we can talk about different stages of investing. At  Highland,  we are predominantly Series  A  investor. So were usually coming in as the first largest institutional investor in the company. Were usually the fi rst outside board director, thats not always the case, but its usually the case. We like to think that we have a mark on the early formation and growth of the company.  And at some point, more capital comes in and other board members come on board, but we like to be the trusted, kind of first person that makes a bet on a group of entrepreneurs.As such our criteria, different firms think about it differently. There are firms on this road here that focus a lot on market or they focus very much on the specifics of the product. I would say that my focus, and I think most of us here, tend to focus a lot on the team. We very much believe, that we want to be backing great founders who can really take it the whole way. So anytime, sort of a difficult exercise, cause youre thinking maybe 8, 9 years in the future, but we think that we have over 26 years to develop a decent pattern recognition on what makes founders really, the kind of people who can lead the whole way.  That doesnt mean that they always do, but we try to find those criteria. And if we look at our own history of our biggest wins as a firm, theyre usually the ones where the founders did go the whole way.So, what does that tell? For us, I think, in some sectors you need to bring to the table some sort of relevant expertise from that industry. Some sort of insight that you would have that a lay person thats walking into that business wouldnt have. I do think that having fresh perspective in some businesses is helpful. But if youre building a security software company, having a good history of knowing what features are valued by customers is really helpful because once you shipped your product, that  mission  is critical stuff, right.  So having the experience from the industry is very important.We often talk about magnetism, like with founders. Theres some people that, I dont know if youve met, but you just go, I really would love to work with that person. Theres a certain amount of optimism, a certain amo unt of what I call unflappableness. Someone who cant be taken off their path. And those types of people are very rare to find, but they believe in it so much themselves that other people are willing to take the risk and go with them on the journey. Thats something we look for.In some ways of shapes and forms that might be called leadership. But actually leadership has also some other characteristics as well. Leadership isnt just the ability to guide, get people to go on the journey with you, but its the ability to actually organize those people into a functioning organization.And so, even with very young founders, we look for people who have the ability to manage, who have the ability to partition the work and motivate and really help developed their employees.  This is not easy stuff. And its helpful if youve worked in a high function organization before and have seen these patterns, but even first time founders sometimes have a knack for that.If its a highly technical project, we look frankly for brilliant, world class engineers. The last company that I kind of let the investment for  Highland  is, the CTO is one of the guys who helped write Java. One of the other founders helped create MapReduce at Google. So we really look for people with world class technical talent, because what weve found is that there is, between a good engineer and a truly great engineer, theres like a whole order of magnitude in productivity. Its not just their productivity, its the other talent that they can attract to the team.  So when you back truly great people, they actually form this sucking sound in this industry where they get the best talent into that company. And that of course reinforces the companys success.Martin: How do you test this magnetism and on the other hand industry knowledge, given that you often times invest in companies that are trying to reshape an industry and which is most of the time you dont have direct insight in the industry as well?Alex: I mean the w ay we test the team aspect is, we do a lot of references. Ideally, the ideal situation is youve already worked for this person for 20 years, right. And you already have the evidence. It happens occasionally, every now and then. But a lot of times, teams come out of companies that were successful and start a new company. You may have known them by reputation, or you may know them socially, but youve never worked with them before.What we do there is, we do heavy, heavy deep reference checks. And we talk to lots of people that have worked with them, we talk to people that have work with them even like 20 years prior and we form in our own heads, a narrative about that persons career. And we try to understand what makes them successful, what are their strength, what are their weaknesses. And we form a thesis around the team.And, like I said, were not always right. But more often than not, we are. That often, when we are right, we actually find that those are the best companies. And so, personally when I go very deep on the team, and try to really understand, what theyre good at and what they need from us. And frankly, it helps us thinking about how we can be helpful as a partner. If this is a very strong technical team, but they dont really have a good business development sense, thats something we can try to bring to the table. We can try to find them someone. First of all, we can advice them on that. But we can also go try to find them someone to work in that function.So thats kind of how we  set that out.  I think the only thing you can do is, talk to people who have worked with them before and form an opinion about what they need.Martin: And how can you find out if some founder is really able to manage pivots? Like before, most of the time, the first year wont be the final idea when you execute a company.Alex: So that another great reason to back teams instead of  market sales. There is this idea that a great team will find a great market. The people that beli eve in the market say that, you could put Bill Gates and have him sell ice cream, and hell never build a 100 billion company because the market size for ice cream is only so big. Right.  So, its more of a religious  conviction,  but I think that great teams tend to find new opportunities.Weve had  companies in the past that started down on one direction and have made pivots into several, maybe several times, to the point where I think the good ones tend to stick in the same market, but they try to change the business model.So, a good example would be a portfolio company of ours called thredUP, which is an e-commerce company. When they started out, the idea was to basically to be able to exchange clothing with one another. So, you and I can trade our shirts, if we want to. That only has so much upside, because theres just not that many people whore willing to dig through other peoples closets and judge, I like that shirt has a little bit of stain on it, I really dont want that one, b ut Ill take that one. Its a lot of work for a consumer, right. And its actually a lot of work for a seller, because they have to figure out, they have to go take everything, photos and put it online.So, that company pivoted to become an e-commerce company. So meaning that theyll actually just buy things from you and they know what they can buy and what they shouldnt buy, and then they go sell it on the Internet. So for the consumer, it just looks like a normal e-commerce store. And for a seller, all they do is just put all their stuff they want to sell in a bag, and you send it in. They dont have to worry about it.  And thats when the business really took off. And thats when we invested.But the founders are 2 guys I went to business school with, and Ive known them for 5.5 years now. It took many years to really figure out what the right model was. But these guys, by the time they got there, they were experts on that market. There’s no one who knows that market better than these gu ys. And you have to be willing to support founders, while they figure that out because it sometimes not everything takes off right from the get go.We tried to back great people, who weve believed have the ability to figure what the right business is.Martin: Alex, Im very sure that you see so many pitches a year. Can you tell us a little bit about what makes a great pitch and then maybe tell us a little bit of some examples where you say, this was a great pitch because of X and this wasnt a good pitch because of Y?Alex: So any great pitch is a great story, right. The best pitchmen and pitchwomen are the best story tellers. So the best pitches Ive seen, have taken me through this opportunity. Youve got to get peoples attention right away. One of the things that kills me is, when people don’t tell you what the product is until half way through the deck. Tell me what youre building, tell me why youre building it, tell me why the world needs it. Take me on the journey, tell me who you are and why you guys are the most relevant people that actually go on this journey and convince me that its a journey worth going on together. And if you take that attitude as oppose to just kind of giving me a bunch of facts, I think that youre probably half way there. We of course, we decided if its a fit for us, but youll be surprised of how many people come in here and just regurgitate a bunch of facts about a market size and about product matrix  and stuff. And that works for later stage investors, whore more interested in just, I want to invest a dollar and get 3 dollars out.For us, were signing out for 8-9 years of work potentially, and we have to believe that this is going to change the world. We have to believe that any investment that we make is going to return our fund. Thats multi billion dollar company and to do that, you have to believe that its a generational type of opportunity. And for that, youll need to be able to tell us that story.Its not very specific feedback , but to be more specific, I think one of the most interesting thing Ive seen in the slide deck that I really liked, I really dont see this that often. It is the same company actually, thredUP. I remember when the CEO was pitching us, he said, heres what you have to believe to want to invest in my company. He said, if you dont believe these things you should not invest, and he listed them. And the interesting thing by doing that is, you kind of go through one-by-one, you go, Okay I believe that, I believe that, I believe that. And so like, then I should invest in the company.So he led me down this road and it was a very logical argument. I think more founders should take  that type of approach, where they are like, Look, theres a lot of risk in this venture. Heres what we believe. And if you believe what we believe, clearly theres a massive opportunity here. And it doesnt mean that were going to get there, we have to execute on it, but what we see is, look for is the optionality.Th ey look for, if the execution is good, can we actually have a huge opportunity? Its a huge upside. So thats what its all about. Its not about necessarily convincing them that theres no risk. Smart investors know theres risk. Its about convincing them that the upside is there. And for that, you need to believe in a certain set of things. If you dont believe them, youre not going to believe theres the upside.Martin: And when youre saying that, entrepreneurs tell you stories, do you mean that they should give you a big picture in terms of, Okay, in 5 to 10 years we would like to own that and that on that market, or do you want to say, This is what we want to do in the next 2 years?Alex: Theres the story, theres a combination, so heres what I say. Theres a 10 year road map. Like this is a 10 year vision, thats what I say. A 10 year vision and theres like a 6 month plan.  So youve got to believe in the 10 year vision, and you have to believe in the 6 month plan. Like whats the next logic al miles  from here to here.  So youve got to simultaneously sell both of those things.I remember when we have a company in our portfolio called 2U, which is an online education company that recently went public. I remember, the very first meeting with them, one of the founders said that, look theres plenty of online colleges you can go to, but they have the wrong incentives system. Like if you are, I dont know if you have this in Europe, but this for-profit education like  University  of  Phoenix, or Capella.Martin: Open university in the  UK, I guess.Alex: You borrow money from the government via Title IV, to go to school and then, so you load yourself up with debt as a student, and then you come out with a degree thats not that valuable actually, in a lot of cases. Or you may not even finish. Why is that an endemic problem? Well, its because they actually dont really have that much incentive for you to be a great, like have a great job and a great profession. Theyre kind of in a business of signing you up and covering their acquisition cost and then moving on to the next student. Thats how they make their money. And sure theyd like to keep paying your tuition, but if you ultimately not a successful in job market place, it doesnt really affect them.Whereas if you look at non-profit schools, like Harvard, or MIT or YALE or USC, or  Georgetown, whatever, great schools, theyre non-profits and their mission is just to educate people wholl go out into the world and have great careers. And they build their reputation on the fact that people are educated, and also can have a great career with the degree they get.And in particular with graduate degrees, its very, very tied to your career, because youve already graduated from college and youre going back to school because you want  to get to the next level in your career.So, instead of building another online school, lets go build a company that helps bring these non-profits on the internet, because then they can tak e their mission and take it global. You can go from being the number 10 program in your field to being the number 1, and we can help give you those tools to go online.  Were now align with our school partners. So to me, it was a very compelling vision of the future. I think in every vision of the future, where it actually ends up in retrospect working, its always a bit controversial when you first hear it.Like today, this was like 2009 or something when we first heard this. Today, online education is like, kind of going mainstream. Back then, it was not. So there was a lot of controversy. Will school sign up for this? Will school want online students coming to their universities? Will that dilute our brand? And it turns out, it was the best thing in the world for their brand. Because they basically, you know, there are students around the world that never heard of these guys and now theyre getting degrees and now theyre going into workplace and  people are seeing that on their resu me.So, its a transforming of a company but it was very controversial at the time, and require you to think differently, but the story made sense. If you believe this, if we can get there, this is a massive opportunity because were the first online education company that actually aligns with the students for outcomes.ADVICE TO ENTREPRENEURS FROM ALEX TAUSSIG In Palo Alto we talked with venture capitalist Alex Taussig about the investment process and investment criteria at Highland Capital Partners. Furthermore, Alex shares his learnings and advice for young entrepreneurs.The transcript of the interview is provided below.INTRODUCTIONMartin: Hi, today we are in  Menlo Park,  in the Highland Capital Partners office with Alex. Alex, who are you and what do you do?Alex: Haha Hi, good to have you guys here. My name is Alex Taussig, Im a ventures capitals partner at Highland Capital Partners. We are a 26 year old venture capital firm with offices all around the world, and we invest in early stage technology companies. So, thats both enterprise companies, everything from infrastructure software to application software to consumer internet companies, market places, social media, all that kind of stuff. So, weve been around, as I said, for a while.In  Boston,  we have our offices where we started the firm. We also have our office out here, as well as in  Geneva  and in  Shanghai.Martin: Great! Awesome.Martin: Can you tell us a little bit about your background? What did you do before you started being a venture capitalist?Alex: So I have a bit of unconventional background in some sense. For a long time growing up, I thought I was going to be a professor. So I was on an academic track for the most of my life. Started labs when I was a teenager and did a lot different types of research expose into a lot of different technology in bioinformatics, computer vision. I ended up doing physics and materials engineering. Physics is an undergrad and then materials engineering as a grad student at MIT.It was some point during the grad school days, I got a little bit bored of research. Its a bit of a slower pace than we find in the startup world. And at the same time, Ive known a lot of folks that I went to college with at Harvard, who had come out to the Valley to start a companies or a lot of them at that point of time, theyre actually going to Microsoft and then come to the Valley. That would seem to be a lot of pattern. And I was at Harvard when Facebook started, so it was part of this generation of sort of new entrepreneurs and decided that I wanted to be part of that in someway. And at the time, someone had told me about venture capital, which is sort of this of interesting intermediary between people that make the technology and the financial markets. And having grown up in New York City, and been in around the finance community in my whole life, I thought it would be a nice marriage of my passions for sort of helping capitalized businesses and then also working with technologists to help bringing their stuff out of the lab, out of the confined of small, little dimly-lit rooms into the real world and serving customers. So I decided to venture capital, Id like to  learn more about what that was.So I ended up going to business school. I left MIT, got out of PhD program and decided to get a Masters instead, so I wrote my thesis. And then I went over to HBS,  Harvard  Business  School  and joined  Highland  out of business school.So Ive been with  Highland  for about 5.5 years now. And started working in our  Boston  office with one of our founders very closely. So that was sort of my apprenticeship, if you will. I worked very closely with him on a number of companies in the security software space, dataware housing. We invested in a robotics company, which I’m happy to talk about. Its pretty cool stuff.So we like really technically complex problems and really amazing engineering founders. And thats really what Ive been doing pretty much ever since. And I moved out here about 2.5 years ago to help build our West Coast office. And thats kind of what Ive been doing. But Im sort of a career venture capitalist and Im inspired by great innovations and great engineers. Id like to help them explore their transition from inventing great technology and moving it to the real world.Martin: Actually from my point of view, there are a lot of similarities between being a professor, entrepreneur or venture capitalist by building up hypothesis and testing them. The only thing is that, as a professor maybe you can only do the theoretical stuff, but as an entrepreneur and a VC you also see the consequences.Alex: Well in a laboratory, you’re still isolated from the real world, you know. I worked on a project that was trying to create computer chips that ran on light. So, instead of electricity, the computer chip that runs on light. Thats a big idea, right. We were totally, I mean as a student I was totally unaware that Intel would just like totally control this market. Theres no hope for commercializing this technology as a small company.Had I known, had I come from the business background, I probably would have figured out earlier, right. But with that being said, you know, you do a lot of really cutting edge stuff in the lab, but you do it as sort of scale and with a sort of ment orship that doesnt really guide you down to the commercial route.  I think that we still have a lot of work to do on a model that transitions a laboratory research out into the real world. You know, Stanford over here has done a great job at it. MIT is doing a  good job, Harvard is doing a descent job, but there’s  still a lot of work to do. And I think coming from that world, I can I kind of walk in both pair of shoes if you will.I see some similarities, there’s a good amount of   hypothesis-driven testing you refer to, but the practicality is quite different. The emphasis here if its not valuable to customer, its not valuable to work on. Which is very different than academia.HIGHLAND CAPITAL PARTNERS INVESTMENT CRITERIAMartin: Let’s talk about Highland Capital Partners. What are the typical selection criteria for you to invest in a company? And maybe you can build some kind of matrix, depending on  ticket  size, industry, at what stage is the company, etc.Alex: Lots of diff erent venture firms have different approaches. I think, we can talk about different stages of investing. At  Highland,  we are predominantly Series  A  investor. So were usually coming in as the first largest institutional investor in the company. Were usually the first outside board director, thats not always the case, but its usually the case. We like to think that we have a mark on the early formation and growth of the company.  And at some point, more capital comes in and other board members come on board, but we like to be the trusted, kind of first person that makes a bet on a group of entrepreneurs.As such our criteria, different firms think about it differently. There are firms on this road here that focus a lot on market or they focus very much on the specifics of the product. I would say that my focus, and I think most of us here, tend to focus a lot on the team. We very much believe, that we want to be backing great founders who can really take it the whole way. So anyti me, sort of a difficult exercise, cause youre thinking maybe 8, 9 years in the future, but we think that we have over 26 years to develop a decent pattern recognition on what makes founders really, the kind of people who can lead the whole way.  That doesnt mean that they always do, but we try to find those criteria. And if we look at our own history of our biggest wins as a firm, theyre usually the ones where the founders did go the whole way.So, what does that tell? For us, I think, in some sectors you need to bring to the table some sort of relevant expertise from that industry. Some sort of insight that you would have that a lay person thats walking into that business wouldnt have. I do think that having fresh perspective in some businesses is helpful. But if youre building a security software company, having a good history of knowing what features are valued by customers is really helpful because once you shipped your product, that  mission  is critical stuff, right.  So having the experience from the industry is very important.We often talk about magnetism, like with founders. Theres some people that, I dont know if youve met, but you just go, I really would love to work with that person. Theres a certain amount of optimism, a certain amount of what I call unflappableness. Someone who cant be taken off their path. And those types of people are very rare to find, but they believe in it so much themselves that other people are willing to take the risk and go with them on the journey. Thats something we look for.In some ways of shapes and forms that might be called leadership. But actually leadership has also some other characteristics as well. Leadership isnt just the ability to guide, get people to go on the journey with you, but its the ability to actually organize those people into a functioning organization.And so, even with very young founders, we look for people who have the ability to manage, who have the ability to partition the work and motivate a nd really help developed their employees.  This is not easy stuff. And its helpful if youve worked in a high function organization before and have seen these patterns, but even first time founders sometimes have a knack for that.If its a highly technical project, we look frankly for brilliant, world class engineers. The last company that I kind of let the investment for  Highland  is, the CTO is one of the guys who helped write Java. One of the other founders helped create MapReduce at Google. So we really look for people with world class technical talent, because what weve found is that there is, between a good engineer and a truly great engineer, theres like a whole order of magnitude in productivity. Its not just their productivity, its the other talent that they can attract to the team.  So when you back truly great people, they actually form this sucking sound in this industry where they get the best talent into that company. And that of course reinforces the companys success.M artin: How do you test this magnetism and on the other hand industry knowledge, given that you often times invest in companies that are trying to reshape an industry and which is most of the time you dont have direct insight in the industry as well?Alex: I mean the way we test the team aspect is, we do a lot of references. Ideally, the ideal situation is youve already worked for this person for 20 years, right. And you already have the evidence. It happens occasionally, every now and then. But a lot of times, teams come out of companies that were successful and start a new company. You may have known them by reputation, or you may know them socially, but youve never worked with them before.What we do there is, we do heavy, heavy deep reference checks. And we talk to lots of people that have worked with them, we talk to people that have work with them even like 20 years prior and we form in our own heads, a narrative about that persons career. And we try to understand what makes them successful, what are their strength, what are their weaknesses. And we form a thesis around the team.And, like I said, were not always right. But more often than not, we are. That often, when we are right, we actually find that those are the best companies. And so, personally when I go very deep on the team, and try to really understand, what theyre good at and what they need from us. And frankly, it helps us thinking about how we can be helpful as a partner. If this is a very strong technical team, but they dont really have a good business development sense, thats something we can try to bring to the table. We can try to find them someone. First of all, we can advice them on that. But we can also go try to find them someone to work in that function.So thats kind of how we  set that out.  I think the only thing you can do is, talk to people who have worked with them before and form an opinion about what they need.Martin: And how can you find out if some founder is really able to ma nage pivots? Like before, most of the time, the first year wont be the final idea when you execute a company.Alex: So that another great reason to back teams instead of  market sales. There is this idea that a great team will find a great market. The people that believe in the market say that, you could put Bill Gates and have him sell ice cream, and hell never build a 100 billion company because the market size for ice cream is only so big. Right.  So, its more of a religious  conviction,  but I think that great teams tend to find new opportunities.Weve had  companies in the past that started down on one direction and have made pivots into several, maybe several times, to the point where I think the good ones tend to stick in the same market, but they try to change the business model.So, a good example would be a portfolio company of ours called thredUP, which is an e-commerce company. When they started out, the idea was to basically to be able to exchange clothing with one another . So, you and I can trade our shirts, if we want to. That only has so much upside, because theres just not that many people whore willing to dig through other peoples closets and judge, I like that shirt has a little bit of stain on it, I really dont want that one, but Ill take that one. Its a lot of work for a consumer, right. And its actually a lot of work for a seller, because they have to figure out, they have to go take everything, photos and put it online.So, that company pivoted to become an e-commerce company. So meaning that theyll actually just buy things from you and they know what they can buy and what they shouldnt buy, and then they go sell it on the Internet. So for the consumer, it just looks like a normal e-commerce store. And for a seller, all they do is just put all their stuff they want to sell in a bag, and you send it in. They dont have to worry about it.  And thats when the business really took off. And thats when we invested.But the founders are 2 guys I went to business school with, and Ive known them for 5.5 years now. It took many years to really figure out what the right model was. But these guys, by the time they got there, they were experts on that market. There’s no one who knows that market better than these guys. And you have to be willing to support founders, while they figure that out because it sometimes not everything takes off right from the get go.We tried to back great people, who weve believed have the ability to figure what the right business is.Martin: Alex, Im very sure that you see so many pitches a year. Can you tell us a little bit about what makes a great pitch and then maybe tell us a little bit of some examples where you say, this was a great pitch because of X and this wasnt a good pitch because of Y?Alex: So any great pitch is a great story, right. The best pitchmen and pitchwomen are the best story tellers. So the best pitches Ive seen, have taken me through this opportunity. Youve got to get peoples atten tion right away. One of the things that kills me is, when people don’t tell you what the product is until half way through the deck. Tell me what youre building, tell me why youre building it, tell me why the world needs it. Take me on the journey, tell me who you are and why you guys are the most relevant people that actually go on this journey and convince me that its a journey worth going on together. And if you take that attitude as oppose to just kind of giving me a bunch of facts, I think that youre probably half way there. We of course, we decided if its a fit for us, but youll be surprised of how many people come in here and just regurgitate a bunch of facts about a market size and about product matrix  and stuff. And that works for later stage investors, whore more interested in just, I want to invest a dollar and get 3 dollars out.For us, were signing out for 8-9 years of work potentially, and we have to believe that this is going to change the world. We have to believe that any investment that we make is going to return our fund. Thats multi billion dollar company and to do that, you have to believe that its a generational type of opportunity. And for that, youll need to be able to tell us that story.Its not very specific feedback, but to be more specific, I think one of the most interesting thing Ive seen in the slide deck that I really liked, I really dont see this that often. It is the same company actually, thredUP. I remember when the CEO was pitching us, he said, heres what you have to believe to want to invest in my company. He said, if you dont believe these things you should not invest, and he listed them. And the interesting thing by doing that is, you kind of go through one-by-one, you go, Okay I believe that, I believe that, I believe that. And so like, then I should invest in the company.So he led me down this road and it was a very logical argument. I think more founders should take  that type of approach, where they are like, Look , theres a lot of risk in this venture. Heres what we believe. And if you believe what we believe, clearly theres a massive opportunity here. And it doesnt mean that were going to get there, we have to execute on it, but what we see is, look for is the optionality.They look for, if the execution is good, can we actually have a huge opportunity? Its a huge upside. So thats what its all about. Its not about necessarily convincing them that theres no risk. Smart investors know theres risk. Its about convincing them that the upside is there. And for that, you need to believe in a certain set of things. If you dont believe them, youre not going to believe theres the upside.Martin: And when youre saying that, entrepreneurs tell you stories, do you mean that they should give you a big picture in terms of, Okay, in 5 to 10 years we would like to own that and that on that market, or do you want to say, This is what we want to do in the next 2 years?Alex: Theres the story, theres a combinatio n, so heres what I say. Theres a 10 year road map. Like this is a 10 year vision, thats what I say. A 10 year vision and theres like a 6 month plan.  So youve got to believe in the 10 year vision, and you have to believe in the 6 month plan. Like whats the next logical miles  from here to here.  So youve got to simultaneously sell both of those things.I remember when we have a company in our portfolio called 2U, which is an online education company that recently went public. I remember, the very first meeting with them, one of the founders said that, look theres plenty of online colleges you can go to, but they have the wrong incentives system. Like if you are, I dont know if you have this in Europe, but this for-profit education like  University  of  Phoenix, or Capella.Martin: Open university in the  UK, I guess.Alex: You borrow money from the government via Title IV, to go to school and then, so you load yourself up with debt as a student, and then you come out with a degree that s not that valuable actually, in a lot of cases. Or you may not even finish. Why is that an endemic problem? Well, its because they actually dont really have that much incentive for you to be a great, like have a great job and a great profession. Theyre kind of in a business of signing you up and covering their acquisition cost and then moving on to the next student. Thats how they make their money. And sure theyd like to keep paying your tuition, but if you ultimately not a successful in job market place, it doesnt really affect them.Whereas if you look at non-profit schools, like Harvard, or MIT or YALE or USC, or  Georgetown, whatever, great schools, theyre non-profits and their mission is just to educate people wholl go out into the world and have great careers. And they build their reputation on the fact that people are educated, and also can have a great career with the degree they get.And in particular with graduate degrees, its very, very tied to your career, because youve a lready graduated from college and youre going back to school because you want  to get to the next level in your career.So, instead of building another online school, lets go build a company that helps bring these non-profits on the internet, because then they can take their mission and take it global. You can go from being the number 10 program in your field to being the number 1, and we can help give you those tools to go online.  Were now align with our school partners. So to me, it was a very compelling vision of the future. I think in every vision of the future, where it actually ends up in retrospect working, its always a bit controversial when you first hear it.Like today, this was like 2009 or something when we first heard this. Today, online education is like, kind of going mainstream. Back then, it was not. So there was a lot of controversy. Will school sign up for this? Will school want online students coming to their universities? Will that dilute our brand? And it turns out, it was the best thing in the world for their brand. Because they basically, you know, there are students around the world that never heard of these guys and now theyre getting degrees and now theyre going into workplace and  people are seeing that on their resume.So, its a transforming of a company but it was very controversial at the time, and require you to think differently, but the story made sense. If you believe this, if we can get there, this is a massive opportunity because were the first online education company that actually aligns with the students for outcomes.ADVICE TO ENTREPRENEURS FROM ALEX TAUSSIGMartin: Alex, imagine a friend of yours or a friend of friend of yours comes to you and says, Alex, I would like to start a company. What would be the best advice that you would give him, in terms of financing the company or maybe setting up a team, or later on, after he finds a managing relationship with the board?Alex: First thing Id say is, why do you want to start a company. So starting a company is really, really hard. Its almost impossible to describe it, how hard it is to most people.I guess starting a venture backed kind of company is extremely hard. You have no resources, its incredibly difficult for people to hear your cause, its hard to get that initial traction, and you devote so much of your life to actually making this work. And you put yourself and your ego and all that stuff into it, your blood, sweat and tears. For something that will, you know, probabilistically not worked out. And by the way, if you are really good, youre probably leaving some job that was very high paying and some lifestyle that youre really accustomed to go and do this.So, its like a very, very difficult thing to do and I actually think that starting a company is not the right choice for most people. I don’t believe that most people are founders or have the ability to be founders. But I also believe, that in this culture we have right now, what seems to be very popular to romanticized people whove founded companies, that a lot of people think they are that person.So the first thing I tell people is just do a  gut check. Its just to basically say, am I willing. Here’s what I would tell people. Are you willing to work on this idea for 2 years with no traction. Like if youre willing to do it for 2 years with 0 traction, then you probably have the grid and the fortitude to actually make it the whole way. Because I have a lot of friends who have started a very successful companies, for which the first 2 years of that, they had nothing.What separates them from everyone else that went by the way side, was the fact they actually stuck with it. So youve got to be able to do that. If you can do that, youve a  higher chance of being successful. So thats the first thing I would say to them is, do you want to spend 2 years of your life on something that potentially have 0, 0 traction and still want to go for it. So thats what I would say.Martin : Okay. Great! And in terms of financing, what would you recommend to your friend? He is very young and he’s trying to set up a not that much capital intensive business.Alex: The first round should honestly, I mean, I had some good advice from a professor in business school. Business school is funny. You dont remember a lot of the stuff youre told, but every now and then, theres a little nugget that sticks in your head. And this one is always stuck in my head. Which was, the person who is likely to write you the first check, is not going to do it because of your business, theyre going to do it because of you.So theyre going to do it because they want to see you succeed. So I think the first thing you should do if you are financing a company, when youre just starting it, is go find the people who want you to be successful and will back you because its you. So get those people. Then, the next people you get, should be extremely high profile and have a great reputation in the industr y youre focused on.So instead of trying to go out and  raise money from like 100 random people, focus on like the 10 highly relevant people. Because it turns out the way fundraising works is once you get 1 or 2 of those people, everyone else will want to be in the round. So you spend 80% of your effort on the really relevant, highly visible people.  Once you get them, its like going bowling. All the other pins will just start to fall over.So thats usually the advice I gave people at that stage.I would honestly take money from as few individuals as you can and still be able to raise enough. The more people you add to the cap table, the more angry phone calls you have to deal with, Wheres my money? Oh, how you guys doing? Often times the most annoying ones are the angry ones, its the, Hey, how are things going? can I come and check it out? You dont want to manage a lot of, a lot of people. You want to have a low maintenance investors and have as few of them as possible, in my view.Ma rtin: Because you want to focus on the building the business and not on managing the investors relationship.Alex: Fundraising for most entrepreneurs is a nuisance. There are some that actually enjoy it. They tend to also be very good at it. But most people I know, really dislike fundraising and would prefer not to spend a lot of time on it. And I think thats probably right.When I meet people and interested in investing in the company, I tell them, look heres what I need to do to get to the point where were going to decide were going to make an investment, and I want to use your time as judiciously possible, because I know this is not the fun part. The fun part is building the business. And then when I go on the board, were going to have a long, long relationship to work together. So right now is the time where we need to fill each other out and I need you to answer some questions. So I think good investors will be judicious with their use of your time and bad investor will waste you r time.Martin: Alex, you have seen so many startups. What learnings or mistakes have you seen when young entrepreneurs are trying to scale the company?Alex: Ill tell you a couple of things.I mean theres the classic trying to scale your company before you’re really truly a product market fit. Investing a lot of dollars behind, say, a paid marketing campaign, when you really dont even know what your contribution margins are, or if thats not the relevant matrix, when you dont know the type of users youre trying to acquire. Doesnt make a lot of sense. Theres always, test you can perform but really scaling on those efforts prematurely that can burn through a lot of cash very quickly.  Ideally, when youre in that early stage, the cash youre spending is really should be going to support your team, not in much else.One other thing is, Ive seen is relying on business development to drive early traction. It turns out that other people are never going to be as good at selling you product as you will. If youre going to rely on channels or partnerships to push your product through, its really, really chunky and its really difficult to motivate those parties to actually work hard for you, because they have a ton of other parties as well.  So, Im not a big fan of channel businesses early on, Im not a big fan of businesses that are driven by business development partnerships early on. I think, you need to find a way as a startup to control your own destiny in some sense. Develop direct relationship with your customers or your users and figure out how to get those people to actually help you grow.So, Ive seen those mistakes probably most often with regard to scaling.Martin: Alex, thank you very much for your time. Next time you are pitching Alex, now you  know  how great  pitch looks like and please consider that. Thank you very much.

Brave New World by Aldous Huxley A Summary - 1867 Words

Brave New World essay Imagine a world without wars, famine, old-age or diseases, where everybody is happy with what they have and where people don’t complain. Imagine this place, where people do not discriminate each other for their skin colour or because of their religion. This is the situation of the Brave New World, the people there are divided into ranks, from Alpha Plus to Epsilon. But they don’t care about the classes, their mentality is simple; without the other classes, life wouldn’t be possible. The classes each have their colour, jobs etcetera. The people are never unhappy or discontent. But not everything in this world is perfect; such as not having your own identity, or living in a world based on lies. So this perfect world†¦show more content†¦Bernard feels there is more to life than only sex and soma. He longs for something what he can’t name, something we would call passion and love. This can be made clear from his actions with Lenina. â€Å"He remembered those weeks during which he had looked and wished and almost given up hope of ever having the courage to ask her. Did he dare take the risk being shamed by a cruel refusal? But if she were to say yes, what joy!† He doesn’t think of Lenina like an (lust)object , but as a real person, someone he would want to spent the rest of his life with. Although, Lenina only sees him as someone who can arrange nice trips for her, and is only a ‘quickie’, away from Henry Foster. He hates to see her with any other man, just like he hates the motto: everything belongs to everyone else. Bernard also hates soma, even though he is obliged to, he still tries to use as less as possible. He even refuses to take in soma ice during his date with Lenina â€Å"I’d rather be myself’, he said. ‘Myself and unhappy. Not somebody else, however cheerful.’† He doesn’t hate soma the way the Savage does, he hates it for the reason that he sees the way people act after their â€Å"ritual†, he hates to think of himself like that. This is the same with the reader, we also think of soma like a drug. And after using it you start to become high and act strangely. So John isn’t the only one who shows the reader about the disadvantages of the Brave NewShow MoreRelatedBrave New World by Aldous Huxley: A Summary1881 Words   |  8 PagesBrave New World essay Imagine a world without wars, famine, old-age or diseases, where everybody is happy with what they have and where people don’t complain. Imagine this place, where people do not discriminate each other for their skin colour or because of their religion. This is the situation of the Brave New World, the people there are divided into ranks, from Alpha Plus to Epsilon. But they don’t care about the classes, their mentality is simple; without the other classes, life wouldn’t be possibleRead MoreThe Brave, Condemned, And Wicked1133 Words   |  5 PagesArmani Astudillo Mrs. Segovia Theory Report 07 March 2017 The brave, condemned, and wicked The advancement of technology does not imply the enhancement of humanity , within â€Å" A Brave New World†, by Aldous Huxley, shows a world in which individuality is stripped and replaced by uniformity which can be shown best in the John the â€Å"savage†. Perception has its way of fitting people s circumstances to fit their complex, and in its’ entirety that s what this dystopian novel is about. Human emotionRead MoreBrave New World Discussion Questions1321 Words   |  6 PagesBrave New World Discussion Questions Question 1: Each novel immerses us, instantly, into a world that simultaneously is foreign and familiar. 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In this essay, I hope to show how these seemingly unrelated novels both expound upon a single, very profound, idea.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Before launching into theRead MoreThe Literary Devices Used By Aldous Huxley1534 Words   |  7 PagesOne of the literary devices used is personification, â€Å"Eternity was in our lips and eyes.† (Huxley 252) Huxley exemplified forever, thought which is unique as a living thing to offer emphasis to the adoration and franticness that the Savage was feeling for the loss of his dearest Lenina. Another literary device used is imagery, â€Å"Finally-and this was by far the strongest reason for people’s not wanting to see poor Linda- there was her appearance. 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Desert vs. Dessert How to Choose the Right Word

There are good reasons why desert and dessert are two of the most frequently confused words in English. First, the only visual difference between them is the extra s. Desert has three meanings and two pronunciations, while dessert has just one pronunciation and a single meaning that we all know and love. How to Use Desert The noun desert (with stress on the first syllable) refers to a dry, sandy region or any wasteland. The verb desert (stress on the second syllable) means to abandon or leave. Also, when people get what they deserve, they are said to have received their just deserts, again with the second syllable stressed but pronounced like desserts. The first meaning, as an arid land, came to Middle English from an Old French and Latin term, desertum, meaning just that: a desert. The sense meaning to abandon came from deserter, an Old French word that came from the Latin deserere, meaning to disjoin. The final meaning came from deserte, a Middle English and Old French word meaning deserve. How to Use Dessert A dessert  (stress on the second syllable) is a sweet dish served at the end of a meal. The word comes from desservir, a Middle English and Old French word meaning to clear the table, which is what happens after you finish that final course. Examples The man spent weeks lost in the desert, where his access to water was limited. Here desert is a noun meaning an arid land.Soldiers who desert their posts during wartime can be court-martialed because they have broken military law. In this example, desert is a verb meaning to abandon or leave.In fairy tales, the villains always receive their just deserts. This usage employs deserts as meaning what they deserve.After dinner, I set the table with dessert plates and sliced the blueberry pie for a sweet finale.  This sentence uses desserts, the sweet end-of-meal treat. How to Remember the Difference Here are some tricks for remembering the difference between the three very similar but very different words: The ss in dessert stands for sweet stuff or strawberry shortcake.Desserts spelled backward is stressed, which is how some people feel after they gorge themselves on sweets.The Sahara, perhaps the best-known desert in the world, starts with a single s, the same as desert. The word for the barren desert, because the stress is on the first syllable, is rarely mistaken for the other uses of the word, in which the second syllable is stressed. The third use of desert, which is pronounced like dessert, is usually a plural and is most commonly used in the phrase just desserts. Sources Desert and Dessert. Grammar Monster. Merriam-Webster. Merriam-Websters Dictionary of English Usage. Reprint Edition, Merriam-Webster Inc., November 1, 1994.

Native American Storytelling Lit Paper Free Essays

Native American Storytelling November 12, 2012 ENG/301 Native American Storytelling Native American literature is the root of cultural storytelling, which is told through oral tradition, this consist of stories and songs verbally. Native American literature use literary conventions in the root of myth and symbolic examples in storytelling. The book â€Å"Native American Literature: A Brief Introduction and Anthology† gives good insight into the Native American ways of life and how storytelling is a part of that life. We will write a custom essay sample on Native American Storytelling Lit Paper or any similar topic only for you Order Now Short stories by Simon Oritz and Luther Standing Bear share life experience and cultural diversity. The reader can see how historical, social and political, and cultural ways play a role in the Native Americans storytelling. Storytelling is important in Native American literature. It began through â€Å"†¦both oral performances and in the imagination of written narratives, cannot be discovered in reductive social science translations or altogether understood in historical constructions of culture in one common name† (Vizenor, 1995, p. 1). Storytelling is the verbal source of stories; a well told story takes its reader on a quest or journey and well descriptive. â€Å"The metaphors in oral stories are mundane, abstruse, mysterious, unnamable, and more, but few collections in translation reveal the rich context of the songs and stories† (Vizenor, 1995, p. 7). Native American culture uses stories and songs to entertain as well as a way to teach the youth and inspire. Storytelling is an important tool in the Native American society. Storytelling is how Native Americans passed down the history, heritage, and traditions of their culture. Tragic wisdom is the source of native reason, the common sense gained from the adverse experience of discovery, colonialism, and culture domination† (Vizenor, 1995, p. 6). Native American literature use different types of literary conventions in storytelling traditions. According to Sinnaeve (2012) website, the Native American literary conventions are trickster, death, creation myths, and spiritual relationship to the land. â€Å"The trickster is an important literary and critical presence in contemporary Native American studies† (Cox, 2005, p. 252). Tricksters come in many forms â€Å"such as Raven, Spider and Coyote are haracters in Native American mythology who represent the underside of human nature† (Sinnaeve, 2012). â€Å"In this literary critical context, a trickster uses sleight of hand and tongue to evade, manipulate, and subvert the colonial world† (Cox, 2005, p. 252). In the poem â€Å"My Father’s Song† written by Simon Ortiz, the poem speaks of the importance of creation. The creation of life, land, and plantation, the story is about a boy who is learning to planet corn. â€Å"We planted corn one spring at Acu – we planted several times but this one particular time I remember the soft damp sand in my hand† (Ortiz, 1981/1995, p. 260). Within the field the boy and his father found a nest of mice, the father showed the boy how to gentle pick them up, and take them to the end â€Å"of the field and put them in the shade† (Ortiz, 1981/1995, p. 260). The purpose of literary conventions in storytelling helps to educate the new generation, â€Å"These stories have been carried down orally for generations, often by parents teaching their children about fundamental cultural truths† (Sinnaeve, 2012). The Native American people went through many changes throughout history, social and political, and cultural events. A social and political event was the education of young Native Americans. In 1879, many Native American children were put into the United States Government schools, to teach the youth of the White man’s ways and language. In the story â€Å"My People, the Sioux,† written by Luther Standing Bear, one learns of the hardship the children had to go through. â€Å"It is my desire that all people know the truth about the first Americans and their relations with the United States Government† (Bear, 1975/1996, p. 33). In this story Bear tells the reader how Native American schools began. A man name Captain Pratt though, to better the White people he should â€Å"†¦get some young Indians children and educate them† (Bear, 1975/1996, p. 4). The United States government approved the education of Native American children. Captain Pratt was not prepared to start school, â€Å"He brought some of the Indian prisoners from Virginia with him, and they remained in the Carlisle Barracks until Captain Pratt could go to Dakota and return with h is first consignment of ‘scholars’† (Bear, 1975/1996, p. 34). When the young Native Americans first arrived they had to sleep on the cold hard floor, later on they were given bags to fill up with straw to sleep on, but the children had to fill them up themselves. The children only had the blankets they brought from home. For breakfast the children had bread and water, and lunch meat, bread, and coffee. The children were all renamed with a white man’s name, but they were not taught how to pronounce the names. The author, Bear, was one of the first Native American boys to learn his name; in the story the reader can see how proud he was of his accomplishment. The children had their haircut as a White man’s haircut and soon after wore clothing as the White man. Bear and his cousin, although, bought White man’s clothes with the money their parents sent them. The Native American children choose a religion for themselves then attended Sunday school for those religions. â€Å"I did these duties all the time I was at Carlisle School, so in the early part of 1880, although I was a young boy of but twelve, I was busy learning everything my instructors handed me† (Bear, 1975/1996, p. 44). The root of storytelling is through the Native American culture. Storytelling takes the reader or listener on a journey of the culture and life experience of the people within the culture. Native Americans use literary convention, such as trickster, death, creation myths, etc. to create more allusion. It gives the story more purpose by teaching the reader through the story of the trickster character. Storytelling shares life experience, such as learning to read and write in Bear story â€Å"My People, the Sioux. † Although the reader can see how the White man treated the Native American children a bit harshly, the Native American children overcame it and received an education out of the experience. Native Americans use storytelling for different events and ways of life, such as pass down and education on the cultural history, traditions, knowledge, cares wisdom, morals, and lessons. Reference Bear, L. (1995). My People, the Sioux. In G. Vizenor (Eds) Native American literature. A brief introduction and anthology. New York, NY: Addison-Wesley. (Original works published in 1975) Bridges, K. (2011). South Ark: South Arkansas Community College. Retrieved from http://www. southark. edu/index. php/dr-ken-bridges/1392-united-states-since-1876 Cox, J. H. (2005). Living Sideways: Tricksters in American Indian Oral Traditions. Melus, 30(2), 252. Oritz, S. (1995). My Father’s Song. In G. Vizenor (Eds) Native American literature. A brief introduction and anthology. New York, NY: Addison-Wesley. (Original works published in 1981) Sinnaeve, V. (2012). Wise Geek. Retrieved from How to cite Native American Storytelling Lit Paper, Essay examples

Evolution of Public Health free essay sample

Evolution of Public Health: Sir Alexander Fleming University of Phoenix CERTIFICATE OF ORIGINALITY: I  certify that  the attached  paper is my original work and has not previously been submitted by me or anyone else for any class. I further declare I have cited all sources from which I used  language, ideas, and information,  whether quoted  verbatim or paraphrased, and that any assistance of any kind, which I received while producing this paper, has been acknowledged in the References section. I have obtained written permission from the copyright holder for any trademarked material, logos, or images from the Internet or other sources. I further agree that my name typed  on the line below is intended to have, and shall have, the same validity as my handwritten signature. Evolution of Public Health: Sir Alexander Fleming The discovery of penicillin by Sir Alexander Fleming is believed to be one of the greatest gifts every made to humankind. This discovery introduced the era of antibiotics to the world (Calvo, 2000). Staphylococcus aureus causes various pus-forming infections such as boils, styes, pneumonia, urinary tract infections, and more seriously osteomyelitis and endocarditis (Todar, PhD,  2008). The recurring theme of Sir Fleming’s career was to find a chemical substance that would kill infections bacteria without killing surrounding tissue (â€Å"Sir Alexander Fleming,†Ã‚  2004). Sir Alexander Fleming was a Scottish bacteriologist in the 20th Century. He was taught by his father, Hugh Fleming, how to develop observation skills and reasoning abilities. At 13, he was forced to leave Scotland to find work in London, England, where he lived with his brothers. While living in London, he attended Polytechnic School and after being left an inheritance by an uncle, he was able to attend medical school at St. Mary’s Hospital Medical School (â€Å"Sir Alexander Fleming,†Ã‚  2004). He eventually received his licentiate from the Royal College of Physicians and chose bacteriology as his specialty, where he worked with the Inoculation Department, later renamed Wright-Fleming Institute. There he worked with Sir Almoth Wright, the father of vaccinotherapy. Work at this time mostly centered on finding a treatment for syphilis. In 1908, Fleming passed his medical examinations and served in World War I on the Royal Army Medical Corps, where according to the World Encyclopedia of Biography (2004), he â€Å"specialized in the treatment of wounds by antiseptics. † This is where he first noticed that phagocytosis showed to be more prevalent in war wounds than those in ordinary wounds. He then advised physicians to remove all necrotic tissue. He also observed that antiseptics did not prevent gangrene, but encouraged growth (â€Å"Sir Alexander Fleming,†Ã‚  2004). In 1928, Fleming accidentally observed on a culture of staphylococci that should have previously been discarded, that the mold Penicillium notatum had accidentally been introduced by accidental contamination and had destroyed the staphylococci colonies. Lacking a chemist or biochemist on staff to extract and concentrate the substance, Fleming challenged others to try. It was not until 1939 that Howard Florey and Ernst Chain took the challenge. Using newly available technology, there were able to extract the drug in its purest form and discovered it to be â€Å"a million times more powerful† than Fleming’s early discovery (â€Å"Sir Alexander Fleming,†Ã‚  2004). It was not until 1942 that the first human trials were begun due to small supplies of penicillin. At first it was used only on military personnel due to its effectiveness in the battle field. Manufacturing of the medication began in England and the United States of America in 1943. When supplies were available in 1944, penicillin was made available to the world as a treatment for various staphylococcus infections. In 1944 Alexander Fleming was knighted by Queen Elizabeth for his work (Calvo, 2000). Sir Alexander Fleming was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize along with Ernst Chain and Sir Howard Florey, according to  The Nobel Foundation  (2010), for the discovery of penicillin and its curative effect in various infectious diseases. † After receiving the Nobel Prize, Fleming toured the United States, where to the science and medical communities; he was thought to be a hero. Many American chemical companies donated $100,000 to Fleming for his work, he efused to use such contributions for personal use and instead, he gave all contributions to his institute to help further research in bacteriology. In 1946 Fleming was named director of the Institute, which he held until 1955. Sir Alexander Fleming’s discovery of penicillin, in 1928, forever changed the way that the medical community treated infectious diseases. Without his contribution, along with Chain and Florey, millions of people would have died. This discovery also opened the doors for numerous other discoveries of medications to treat different types of infections. Sir Fleming dedicated his life to finding effective treatments for infections without further harming the patient. His dedication brought science and medicine together in perfect harmony for the benefit of the world. References Calvo, S. C. (2000). Sir Alexander Fleming. Science and Its Times, 6(), 373-374. Retrieved  from  http://ehis. ebscohost. com/ehost/detail? vid=6hid=116sid =8a7203ae-75c5-469b-92e4-0dba849a2cb1%40sessionmgr104bdata= JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=ffec8e49AN= Sir Alexander Fleming. (2004). Encyclopedia of World Biography, 5(2nd edition), 483-485. Retrieved  from  http://go. alegroup. com. ezproxy. apollolibrary. com/ps/retrieve. do? sgHit sgHitCountType=Nonesort=RELEVANCEinPS=true prodId=GVRLuserGroup Name=uphoenixtabID T003searchId=R1resultListType=RESULT_LISTcontent Segment=searchType=BasicSearchForm ¤tPosition=2contentSet= GALE%7CCX 3404702188docId=GALE|CX3404702188docType=GALErole= The Nobel Foundation. (2010). Nobelprize. org. Retrieved From htt p://nobelprize. org nobel_prizes/medicine/laureates/1945/ Todar, PhD, K. (2008). Todars Online Textbook of Bacteriology. Retrieved fromhttp://www. textbookofbacteriology. net/staph_2. html

Bad Kid free essay sample

Bad Kid It was 7:45 a.m, geometry, second hour, dark outside, and I was facing the biggest ethical dilemma of my freshman year. Ninth grade†¦what can I say. It’s vital to the adolescent psyche, and yet we all want to forget it as soon as it’s over. I wanted to fit in, but be unique. I wanted to avoid the Garbage Can at all costs. I wanted to survive. And here, sitting on my right, was my chance at survival. Scottie and Brad were older, smarter, cooler sophomores who needed a freshman’s aid in geometry. Unfortunately for me, this assistance was required in the middle of the unit test. I remember I was working on an algebraic proof when I felt a nudge on my elbow. Brad passed me his sleek iPhone. For a moment I just stared at him, unsure what he was asking. Then he whispered, â€Å"Take a picture. We will write a custom essay sample on Bad Kid or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page † And it began. In the span of seven seconds, I weighed the pros and cons. Or, more accurately, I tried to calculate the chances of my getting caught versus the benefits of possibly getting into this friend group. I looked at Scottie- that tall, tan, dark haired kid, peering around Brad with not the faintest clue on the planet, a small smirk pasted on his face. And I snapped a photo of my work. And I passed it to Brad, who was back for more within one minute. I took three more for them. I finished my test and passed it in; oddly, I couldn’t make eye contact with Mrs. Hartley. There was something pulling viciously at the base of my heart, making it hard to breathe. I had a dull pang in my core. Somebody out there is reading this right now and thinking I exaggerate the physiological symptoms I had. All I can say is this: when one makes eye contact with a parent (the â€Å"scarier† parent) right after committing a childhood crime, one feels that awful sinking feeli ng because the parent is telepathically berating the child. Think back to that feeling. Got it? That’s how I felt after that test. Rock bottom had been hit. Houston, we had a big, BIG problem. But it hadn’t been stretched to the max yet. Nope. There was more torture to come. At 9:02 the bell rang and I gathered my binders and I walked out from behind my desk and I made one step towards the door before she uttered my name. I turned, hands trembling. Without looking up from her desk, Mrs. Hartley motioned me to her desk. I approached with the distinct feeling I was rolling a giant rock in front of my tomb. â€Å"Do you have something you want to share with me?† Without waiting for a reply, she held up mine, Scottie’s and Brad’s papers. â€Å"The exact same errors, on the exact same problem. I can see Scottie and Brad doing something like this, but you? You know I can call the office right now and report you for academic dishonesty.† I felt t ears at the corners of my eyes and was horrified. I was already in trouble, and I was going to cry on top of it? I held them back with a barbed wire swallow. There was a pause that lasted approximately one third of an eternity. Then she sighed. â€Å"I’ll let it go just this once. If it happens again, your parents will find out. I will talk to Scottie and Brad about this separately.† There was a resigned look in her eyes that killed me. I had gotten off, and I could feel that slide off me, but†¦I was no longer in that category, that trust category, that golden kid territory. She didn’t trust me, and had, I believed, written me off. So I thanked her and went to my next class. A few nights later, I was standing next to my dad, surveying the insulation work we’d done that day. He was tapping in a few screws that weren’t flush with the studs. The bedrooms were being redone, and it was a project that took time and effort. I wasn’t feeling th e triumph. As I stood there, I went through the other feeling that is familiar to anyone who’s ever been a kid. To tell or not to tell? That was the question. This time, I made the right decision. I told my dad about that morning. He didn’t say anything at first, just held his hammer. I wondered if he was considering using it on my head. Then he said, â€Å"Why’d you help them?† Well, there was a core answer to that and there was surface answer. I went with the surface answer first. Just testing the waters. â€Å"I†¦felt bad for them, I guess, I don’t know, they seemed so lost and it was like†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (insert unintelligible mumbling). I received that sardonic eye roll/glare which New York natives are gifted with. Dad was not impressed. â€Å"Why’d you help them? It wasn’t because you felt bad for them, you know that. You’re a freshman and they’re sophomores. And they’re ‘cool’.† â €Å"I kinda†¦wanted them to like me, I guess. I wanted them to talk to me, so I’m not- alone.† There was the core answer. I wanted to fit in, to be like the kids everybody else emulated. This particular sentiment isn’t just felt by freshmen†¦it continues. Everyone wants to blend, to be accepted. After that test and after I talked to my dad and after I finished geometry with an A and as I write this essay, I understand this urge. I also understand the effect it has on people in general, and on me. Why is it that we feel the need to follow the pack, be a white sheep, blur the lines that make us individuals? It’s simply human nature. We’re like wolves, mustangs, chickadees: social creatures. Zebras, when being stalked, shuffle together and turn their hides into a living mirage of black and white until the lioness can no longer distinguish one to attack. I think people are the same way; I think we band together because we are afraid to be picked out and hurt. It’s not a bad trait- the only problem is that it can translate into our daily lives and the choices we make. So what makes a black sheep? After that experience, I started to form what would become my high school persona, what has carried me through stress and pressure. Who am I? I’m the kid at the back of the classroom who speaks to the teacher with respect. I’m the one who takes AP classes and doesn’t flaunt it, the one who tries to keep her mouth shut so she doesn’t eat her words later. When I do say something, it’s been mulled over for a few minutes. When I hear someone express a thought, I consider it from every angle and never denounce it. Slow to anger and quick to forgive, I make friends quickly, yet I don’t actively seek them. I’m not there until I speak or am spoken to. This is who I am, and I’m comfortable in it, for now. I may be outspoken in a few years. I may be loud and energetic. I’m open to change in myself, and I believe that is one of the keys to being unique; I will never try to fit into something I’m not. Experiences like the Failed Morality Test of Ninth Grade will shape me. I am quiet, intelligent, strong as all hell and tough as nails. I learn from my mistakes. And†¦I never ever cheat.

The eNotes Blog Pro-Tips to Make the Most Out of Your High SchoolYears

Pro-Tips to Make the Most Out of Your High SchoolYears Back-to school is upon us and, for many students, entering/returning to high school can be an intimidating and overwhelming situation. But the reality is, its a place where we spend four vital years learning, making new friends, and finding ourself. As a high-school graduate in 2012, I have some fresh perspective  so you can make sure your high school years are nothing short of rewarding, stress-free, and memorable. Freshmen Keep your mind open and try new things. Its hereand youre probably freaking out.  You might be  entering  a new school  with at least 10x the amount of people than youre used to, and thats scary!  Initial thoughts might be I hardly know anyone, but see  this as an opportunity to befriend new people who might  become life-long friends. How? Join an extra curricular activity or sit at a new table for lunch once a week. Youll quickly find people with  similar interests and passions,  who enjoy the same activities that you do. And your classmates are  probably as nervous as you are, even if they put on a confident face. Taking the initiative to introduce yourself and learn more about your classmates will probably be met with relief and excitement.   If your school doesnt offer a club or activity that you think would be successful, start your own! In fact, colleges look for students who are willing to be involved and have a strong role in leadership. So you could chalk it up as a friend  and  resume builder. Sophomores All-nighters are unnecessary evils and if youre the first to get a car, you just became a chauffeur. Classes start getting more intense  this year, and its important to start honing good study practices. Youll quickly learn that working on assignments in advance or studying small bits at a time, rather than cramming it all in, is more beneficial for you (and your grades) in the long run. After experiencing  an all-nighter (which usually happens from poor planning), youll likely find yourself exhausted the next day and not retaining a lot of last nights cram session.  Reviewing (not cramming) your notes and flashcards the night and morning before  a test is a great way to keep  the high-level concepts fresh in your mind. Youre also at the age where your parents are probably tired of driving you around. You may think youll want to be the first to get a car (freedom!!), but youll quickly realize being a chauffeur isnt all that great. Getting a car means endless  texts of Do you want to go to_________?  (Translation:  Do you want to go to _________  and  drive us there?).  Its not the worst idea to hold off a few months on getting a car right away. Youll thank yourself later when the majority of your friends have their own, and you can be that aforementioned texter  (just maybe offer to chip in for gas every now and then). Juniors Senioritis is a real thing (its coming) and college rejections arent the end of the world. Youve heard everyone talk about senioritis, but youve yet to  experience it. Key word: yet. If youre unfamiliar, its  this horrible affliction  where you slump around with absolutely no motivation to do just about anything; you know how much  work you have to do and how much time you have  to do it, but the motivation escapes you.  Start to ward off bad habits now. Use a planner to keep yourself  organized and on task. Get in the habit of  doing a little bit of an assignment here and there so you dont find yourself easily overwhelmed. Practice realistic time-management and give yourself the proper time it takes to focus on your  assignments. Speaking of time management: college applications can be very demandingand once youve turned them in, its just as stressful waiting to hear back. Sometimes the news isnt always ideal or what we had in mind, and thats okay!  Have a back-up plan  and youll soon realize, as you progress through your career, that your hard work and experience will outweigh  your alma matter. In my anecdotal experience, you will find yourself loving your attended university a lot more than you thought you would.  As they saywhen one  door closes, another opens! Seniors Prom is definitely worth it and you only graduate from high school once. Believe it or not, prom does lives up to the hype, but the thought of asking someone (or getting asked) to prom can evoke a case of the butterflies. Its important to be confident  and, ladies, it is perfectly okay to be the one to ask someone to Prom (take it from me!). You dont need to wait around stressing yourself out for him/her to ask youjust do it yourself! After I finally got the courage to  ask my date to Prom, I was SO thankful I did. Not only did he say yes, but I was getting to go with who I really wanted to, and thats what makes prom night memorableenjoying your company. Graduation is the cherry on top of your high school experience.  Its an important milestone in your educational journey, and you made it. Now youre probably asking yourselfwhat comes next? Maybegaining more independence? Prepping for college? Starting a full-time job? Determining what happens after graduation can be overwhelming and stressful (just like it was entering high school), but the possibilities are endless. This is now your time to shape the life you desire. Youre gaining additional responsibilities and arriving into adulthood. But youve made it this farwhere will you go next?

Compare and contrast Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Compare and contrast - Essay Example The purpose of this paper is to compare growing up in a single parent family vs. a two parent family. The biggest victims in a divorce scenario are the children. The younger the children are the more impacted they are by a divorce. When two parents get divorce they are supposed to jointly care for the children. The wife typically gets custody of the children with the father having privileges of visiting or staying with the kids during weekends. Children that are raised in a single parent family suffer from more emotional stress than dual parent homes. They do not get the chance to have two parents to rely on at all times. The financial resources of single parent families are lower than in two parent families. It is common knowledge that having more financial resources increases the quality of life of a family. Money does not buy happiness, but it enables the parents to buy clothes, food, medicine, toys, and entertainment for the children. Due to the lower financial resources of singl e parent families the home or apartment they live in are inferior in terms of space and quality of neighborhood. There are some advantages to living in a single parent scenario. The children in these situations usually become more independent. They also may enjoy the love of two additional step parents and step siblings.

Anthropological theories on the common property Term Paper

Anthropological theories on the common property - Term Paper Example In this regard, the theory can be used to describe the behavior individual in the use of common property to meet their needs for more satisfaction. Moreover, people tend to focus on the utilization of utilities which are as cost effective as possible. In this regard the propensity for the use of common property is justified. The human nature which makes them to seek cost effectiveness in their actions and behavior is described within the instrumental rationality which lies in the spectrum of the rational choice theory (Kim and Mahoney 223). In the illustration of rational choice theory, it is observable that people for example tend to use public parks because of the cost effectiveness associated with them. In this regard, the society makes choices based on instrumental rationality to ensure that they enjoy better than bad at the most cost effective manner (McLellan 13). In this regard, the justification which people give for the use of common property is likely to include the fact th at they are cost effective even though they may not reveal this apparently because of the social attitudes associated with the common property. ... Rationality within the rational choice theory is used to signify the sanity which people employ in the use of common property. This means that people are left with no choice but to make realistic and hence sane choices in the utilization of common property (Dowding and Andrew 455). For example it makes sense for sane choices of utilization of common property because of the cost effectiveness associated with them. This can be exemplified by an individual who makes sane choices of using common property swimming pools instead of installing his or her own which would be impractical due to limitations in space, costly and time consuming. The rational choice theory further is used to exemplify the thoughtful nature of human beings in the use of common property. This means that the use of common property is often evaluated or assessed by the users with an aim of determining its usefulness or benefits in relation to the possible advantages (Hechter and Satoshi 194). The rational choice is th us conclusively based on the ability of people to weigh between benefits and disadvantages of utilization of specific common services or property under a thoughtful process before a choice is eventually reached. The motive of rational choice as postulated by the rational choice theory is the maximization of the advantages that can be accrued from personal utilization of common property (Yalman 388). Therefore, there is a rational process which drives the use of common property. The rational process and the cognition of a person therefore define the attitudes and behaviors which are demonstrated during the use or conversation about common property (Roberts 32). More importantly, the rational choice theory is postulated within the concept of preference (Nehring 205). For example

Recruitment and Selection Process in Wipro

Recruitment and Selection Process in Wipro Wipro is Indias largest IT services provider with gross revenue of $6.03 billion in the past financial year. The company is into integrated business, technology and process solutions at a universal basis. The company employs more than 115000 people and is headquartered in Bangalore, India (Web 01). The company is also in other sectors like consumer care, lighting, engineering and healthcare. The company was established in 1945 by M.H Premji. But it was his son and current chairman, Azim Premji who transformed the company into one of the most reputed brands in India. Solely due to his efforts, the company now has more than 40 Centers of Excellence and operates in 4 continents. Like every successful company, Wipro also gives high importance to Human Resource Management. The company is Indias 6th top employer. But the company is not even in the top 20 best employers of the country while their competitors like TCS, Infosys etc. are always in the top ten (Web 02). Therefore it can be judged that the HR functions in the company need to be thoroughly reviewed. In simple terms recruitment can be referred to as the process of searching and attracting competent employees for a particular job (Aswathappa, 2005). Companies invest a lot on recruitment process in order to avoid inappropriate selection. The recruitment process of Wipro is also structured in a detailed manner and involves three rounds: Round 1- Written test 1. Verbal: This is the first section of the written test where 15 questions will be asked to the candidates to test their proficiency in English language and include questions related to synonyms, opposites, similes, prepositions etc. A comprehension passage also might be included for the candidates to read. 2. Aptitude: This section also have 15 questions that are concerned with aptitude topics like Time Work, Time Distance, Puzzles, Calendars, Ratio proportions, Ages, Pipes etc. 3. Technical: This is quite an important part of the written test and involves 20 questions which are meant to test the technical knowledge of the applicant in C, C++, Java, Linux, UNIX, DBMS, SQL, Programming fundamentals, Hardware, Software Engineering, Micro-Processors etc. The questions will be mainly based upon the technical aspects studied as a part of university syllabus. Round 2: Technical Interview The second round is the most important elimination stage in the recruitment process. In this stage the candidates must have through knowledge in the basic technical skills in order get them cleared from t here. Therefore the candidates are asked to get prepared on their academic subjects before sitting for this round. Round 3: HR interview This is found to be the hardest part of the recruitment process. This round is found to be a real test for even the most competent candidates. The most common questions that re asked in this round include speak about oneself, why should the company hire the candidate, why did he wish to join Wipro, etc. The emotional quotient of the candidate is tested in this round in order to check whether he is able to withstand the pressures of the job. The other aspects that are being tested here involve communication and vocabulary of the candidate. Round 4: Placement Once the candidate is selected, he will be provided with an employee code number by the HR manager and a joining form will also be handed over to him which he has to fill up. This turns him from a candidate to an employee. Almost 40% of the employees of Wipro are selected directly from campus recruitments. Another source of recruitment is through the NSR (National Skill Registry). Wipro training model The above figure illustrates the Wipro training model which involves seven stages. These stages happen in a consecutive process. The main stages are: Identify training requirements Define the learning goals and objectives Conceptualize the training program Develop training content Reviews by stakeholders Pilot training content Rollout training content This model helps in identifying the exact training needs of the candidates and provides them with the most appropriate training. The company is also not behind in development initiatives. The Leadership Quality Survey of the company started in 1992 has immensely contributed in nurturing Wipros best business leaders. Wipro now has 8 qualities for leadership which are formulated on the basis of Wipro vision, values and business strategy. As a part of this development initiative, the company has introduced a 360 degree survey process which would enable in improving the competencies and skills of their business leaders. This process begins with receiving feedbacks from related people and finishes when every member frames a Personal Development Plan (PDP) on the basis of the responses received. This Personal Development Plan develops on the basis of a seven-step program that would help the individual to understand his strengths and weaknesses as well as determining the action steps. This program named Wings of Change to symbolize that it would bring up change or transformation in the individual. The Leadership Development Framework of Wipro is also a critical component for improving the leadership qualities of its employees. This framework is given below: This framework would help in understanding the major areas that form in relation to a leader in Wipro. Leadership Lifecycle Programs: The Company has formulated a strategy for Life Cycle Stage Development Plan. This program has been developed in order to frame distinct job profiles and map the competencies needed for each job role. The required competencies determine the success of each job role. The different programs under this LSDP are: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Entry-level program (ELP) This program as the name suggests is for entry level employees and intends to improve their managerial qualities. The main target group for this program is campus recruits and also candidates who entered through lateral entries. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ New Leaders Program (NLP) This is the second level of the LSDP. This level is higher to Entry-level program and is oriented for potential candidates who are most likely to be the leaders of company in the future. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Wipro Leaders Program (WLP) This program is intended for medium level managers with the capability of being a leader in the near future. Through this program, the managers are expected to improve their way of handling employees, operations, business development and project management tasks. The managers who come up from this program become the forerunners of Wipro values and Wipros business operations. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Business Leaders Program (BLP) This is the program designed for the real leaders of the company i.e the senior level executives who hold highly responsible positions. At this level, these executives need not be trained for basic skills and hence it focuses on techniques for revenue generation. The other areas covered in this section involve sales orientation, CRM, team building and performance management. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Strategic Leaders Program (SLP) This is the top level program and is developed for the already existing leaders or top management employees of the company. The key areas included in the program will be Vision, Values, Strategy, Global Thinking, Customer Focus etc. Wipro has ties with many pioneer management institutions inside and outside India to conduct this leadership program for the leaders of the company. 1.3 Custom Content Development (CCD) This is a unique program offered by the company that provides new and economical learning content solutions. This service would help in meeting customer requirements as well as help them get a strategic advantage. Wipros CCD Service undergoes a thorough development cycle to make sure than the client gets quality solutions at precise time. Custom Content Development Service includes: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Application Training à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Process Training à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Compliance and Regulatory Training à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Product Training à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Rapid Training Solutions. 1.4 Human Resource Planning Wipro is the first company to implement many strategic HR and IT services globally. Some of them include People Capability Maturity Model (PCMM) Level 5, SEI Capability Maturity Model (CMM) Level 5 and version 1.1 of CMM. The people processes in the company are the best in the industry and involves most accepted practices in HR, knowledge management and OD so that the employees are equipped with the right skills to face the needs of dynamic business environment. 1.5 Capability Maturity Model (CMM) The expertise in Six-Sigma methodologies has been put to use to modify the prevailing processes in the organizations so that the decisions are made on the basis of metrics and measurements. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ The fundamental concept behind Six Sigma is that if you can compute how many defects you have in a process, you can systematically figure out how to reduce them and get as close to zero defects as possible. It begins with the application of numerical methods for translating information from clientele into specifications for products or services that are being developed or manufactured. Hence this can be considered as a business strategy and a philosophy of one working smarter not harder. Wipro is Indias first company to adopt the Six Sigma methodology and at present it has the most mature programs in the country. This makes sure that 91% of the works are completed on schedule which is quite above the industry average of 55%. Since they have over 10 years experience in this field, the company has made considerable efforts in order to improve the process. Apart from that the company has also scaled Six Sigma ladder which helped over 1000 project to reach completion. The main feature of this program is that it spreads exactly through the verticals and hence is able to influence a number of areas including project management, market development, resource utilization etc. 1.6 Conclusion Thus it is evident that Wipro is giving high importance to recruitment of employees. But even then the HR functions have certain flow which is the main reason why the company is not able to get into the best 10 employers in India. Hence it is the duty of the HR department to bring about a change in the processes so that better employees are hired and maintained. TASK 2 2.1 Introduction Performance management is a key HR function of any company. Oxford English dictionary has defined performance as accomplishment, execution, carrying out, and working out of anything ordered or undertaken. Performance is also defined as A matter that not only people achieve, but also how they achieve it (Armstrong and Baron, 2005). Hence it can be considered as a multidimensional concept and cannot be measured on the basis of a single factor. A common and accepted concept about performance is that it is not merely concerned about final outcomes but also with the actions performed for attaining these targets. 2.2 Performance management in Wipro Performance management is also a hard to define concept. The main reason behind this is the ignorance over performance measure issues. But a clearer definition to this concept was given by Armstrong (2000). In his words, performance management is A strategic and integrated process that delivers sustained success to organizations by improving the performance of people who work in them, and by developing the capabilities of individuals and teams. Wipro has a completely integrated end-to-end Performance Management Solution on its own for carrying out this critical HR function properly. This solution is formulated based upon the universally accepted HR processes adopted in the best organizations and thus helps them to update as well as restructure their performance evaluation processes. The above figure depicts the performance management solution adopted in Wipro. This solution helps the companies in many ways. It not only assists them in adopting the most suitable technique of performance management to that particular company but also reduces the time taken for the completion of Performance Management cycle. The unique feature of Wipros solution is that it does all this without compromising on the operations of other HR sub-functions like Work Planning Conference, objective setting, interim reviews, feedbacks, overall evaluation and rating, recording and documentation etc. Once the HR department makes a review of the organization, the assistant of the HR manager will update and record the score obtained by each employee in the database of the company. 2.3 Importance of performance appraisal in Wipro Performance management or appraisal holds considerable significance in Wipro since its success depends on the performance of employees to a large extent. Before explaining in detail about its importance in Wipro, it is advisable to understand its purpose. The main function behind PA is to make an employee differentiate between his actual performance and the expected performance (Boice Kleiner, 1997). But this holds a one-sided view since only the rater is benefited out of this. A more balanced view of performance appraisal states that only if both the parties i.e appraiser and appraise gets benefited can the process be considered as positive (Fletcher, 2006). Performance management on the other hand can be considered as use of interconnected strategies and techniques with an aim to enhance the performance of individuals, teams and organizations. An appropriate performance management can be regarded as the prime factor in achieving the business goals from the point of view of organization. Therefore performance appraisal is seen as the chief component or tool of performance management in Wipro. Hence the company must make sure that the performance management system adopted must be capable of meeting the needs of organization and the stakeholders (Humphreys, 2008). Thus performance management becomes a core component in promoting corporate governance (Bach Sisson, 2000). Since corporate governance is an issue of great relevance in todays business scenario, performance management becomes quite critical in Wipro. It forms a vital component of the corporate governance framework which helps the management or boards to direct, observe and react to the way the company reacts to the goals, mission and results that is expected from it. Performance management can be helpful to the company in three areas namely: Enhancing the individual productivity Identifying the training needs Allocating the precise rewards An effective method of performance management must inculcate a framework involving both corporate and individual performance planning. Therefore the HR must ensure that the framework involves: Clarification of performance objectives to the employees. This must include communicating the specific tasks, outcomes, behaviors, and other value systems related to ones job. The HR must make sure that these performance objectives are in alignment with the business objectives. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Individual or teams undergo periodical appraisals in order to evaluate their performance against the objectives set for them. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ The employee or appraise is provided with the feedback about his/her performance from this appraisal. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Proper recognition or reward is provided to the appraises for their performance as well as any improvement in their pay or salary based on the performance. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ There will be team and individual development so that the skills and abilities of the team as well as members are building. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ In case there is poor performance, the employee is given proper counseling in order to guide him to the right path. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ To establish a connection between the progress of capabilities with corporate and business planning. That means there will not only be coming down from the results of business planning but also owning a system which feeds back up. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Having the ability to evaluate the contribution made by individual, team and organization for attaining its objectives. Performance management system can also be used in variety of purposes like auditing, evaluation, training, succession planning etc (Randell, 1994). Thus an effective system can be helpful for the employees and teams to understand their objectives and the business goals as well as enables to recognize how effectively they are achieving the corporate goals. This approach thus helps these parties to identify and clearly define their performance expectations which are an essential part of their job. If the people, processes and performance are integrated with the business goals, it would lead to developing the abilities of the individual as well as organization thus leading to their better performance. It is the performance appraisal process which expresses the work standards expected out of a specific job and the norms, values and behaviors that are associated with that job and finally communicating this with the concerned people. Performance management thus results in better performanc e which is more closely directed to the objectives and needs of organization. Performance appraisal and its feedback help the employees to understand the level of their performance and find out ways to improve them. Thus studies reveal that some researchers focus on achievement of business goals as the most important reason behind implementing performance management system while some others view it as a scale for improving performance of one. In an organization like Wipro, it is suggested that a system which fulfills both organization as well as individual needs must be followed. 2.4 360 degree feedback This is a widely accepted technique of performance appraisal adopted by many companies. This method can be used in obtaining both qualitative and quantitative data about an individuals performance. Thus it involves a more holistic approach and here the person is rated based on the feedbacks obtained from people who work close to him i.e peers, superiors, subordinates etc. Apart from that the individual has to undergo a self-rating process also. This method of appraisal is quite suitable with the work environment and job nature in Wipro and can yield positive results. 2.5 Uses of Performance Appraisal System in Wipro: Wipro can have numerous benefits out of the performance management system if implemented properly. The major benefits derived out of it are: Performance management is more concerned about the outputs rather than mere activities or behaviors. Thus enacting that one person is busy would not help him get an appraisal or promotion. He has to achieve the predetermined results in order to get appraised. Performance Management helps in aligning the business processes and operations to the objectives of the organization. There is a chain process in PM which exists in order to make sure that they are in agreement with the organizational objectives. Nurture an organization-wide long-term view of the organization. An effective method of performance management should adopt a system-based approach which aims at the results or outputs of the business processes (Swanson, 1999). In other cases, the result is bound to have certain faults. Performance management would result in meaningful measurements which can be applied in numerous areas like benchmarking, framing standards for comparing the companys practices with the most industry accepted standards. They point out outcomes during development efforts, such as employee training, management development, quality programs, etc. Thus performance management makes sure that employees are equally treated and they receive rewards based on true performance. This way the employees will be able understand their strengths and weaknesses (Brets et.al. 1992). It would help them to be aware about the duties they have to bear and thus act according to his superiors expectations (Rees Porter, 2008). 2.6 Conclusion Thus performance management system in Wipro can help the employee to have a deep knowledge about the corporate objectives and effort required to attain them. This would help him to realize his present position in comparison to the expected level of performance so that he can try more to get to that level. This again leads to overall development of the employee.