Get a Look at Some Giant Mammals of the Cenozoic Era

The word megafauna means giant animals. Though dinosaurs of the Mesozoic Era were nothing if not megafauna, this word is more often applied to the giant mammals (and, to a lesser extent, the giant birds, and lizards) that lived anywhere from 40 million to 2,000 years ago. More to the point, giant prehistoric animals that can claim more modestly sized descendants—such as the giant beaver and the giant ground sloth—are more likely to be placed under the megafauna umbrella than unclassifiable, plus-sized beasts like Chalicotherium or Moropus. Its also important to remember that mammals didnt succeed the dinosaurs—they lived right alongside the tyrannosaurs, sauropods, and hadrosaurs of the Mesozoic Era, albeit in tiny packages (most Mesozoic mammals were about the size of mice, but a few were comparable to giant house cats). It wasnt until about 10 or 15 million years after the dinosaurs went extinct that these mammals started evolving into giant sizes, a process that continued (with intermittent extinctions, false starts, and dead ends) well into the last Ice Age. The Giant Mammals of the Eocene, Oligocene, and Miocene Epochs The Eocene epoch, from 56 to 34 million years ago, witnessed the first plus-sized herbivorous mammals. The success of Coryphodon, a half-ton plant-eater with a tiny, dinosaur-sized brain, can be inferred by its wide distribution across early Eocene North America and Eurasia. But the megafauna of the Eocene epoch really hit its stride with the larger Uintatherium and Arsinoitherium, the first of a series of -therium (Greek for beast) mammals that vaguely resembled crosses between rhinoceroses and hippopotamuses. The Eocene also gestated the first prehistoric horses, whales, and elephants. Wherever you find large, slow-witted plant-eaters, youll also find the carnivores that help keep their population in check. In the Eocene, this role was filled by the large, vaguely canine creatures called mesonychids (Greek for middle claw). The wolf-sized Mesonyx and Hyaenodon are often considered ancestral to dogs (even though it occupied a different branch of mammalian evolution), but the king of the mesonychids was the gigantic Andrewsarchus, at 13 feet long and weighing one ton, the largest terrestrial carnivorous mammal that ever lived. Andrewsarchus was rivaled in size only by Sarkastodon—yes, thats its real name—and the much later Megistotherium. The basic pattern established during the Eocene epoch—large, dumb, herbivorous mammals preyed on by smaller but brainier carnivores—persisted into the Oligocene and Miocene, 33 to 5 million years ago. The cast of characters was a bit stranger, featuring such brontotheres (thunder beasts) as the gigantic, hippo-like Brontotherium and Embolotherium, as well as difficult-to-classify monsters like Indricotherium, which looked (and probably behaved) like a cross between a horse, a gorilla, and a rhinoceros. The largest non-dinosaur land animal that ever lived, Indricotherium (also known as Paraceratherium) weighed between 15 to 33 tons, making adults pretty much immune to predation by contemporary saber-toothed cats. The Megafauna of the Pliocene and Pleistocene Epochs Giant mammals like Indricotherium and Uintatherium havent resonated with the public as much as the more familiar megafauna of the Pliocene and Pleistocene epochs. This is where we encounter fascinating beasts like Castoroides (giant beaver) and Coelodonta (woolly rhino), not to mention mammoths, mastodons, the giant cattle ancestor known as the auroch, the giant deer Megaloceros, the cave bear, and the biggest saber-toothed cat of them all, Smilodon. Why did these animals grow to such comical sizes? Perhaps a better question to ask is why their descendants are so tiny—after all, svelte beavers, sloths, and cats are a relatively recent development. It may have something to do with the prehistoric climate or a strange equilibrium that prevailed between predators and prey. No discussion of prehistoric megafauna would be complete without a digression about South America and Australia, island continents that incubated their own strange array of huge mammals (until about three million years ago, South America was completely cut off from North America). South America was the home of the three-ton Megatherium (giant ground sloth), as well as such bizarre beasts as Glyptodon (a prehistoric armadillo the size of a Volkswagen Bug) and Macrauchenia, which can best be described as a horse crossed with a camel crossed with an elephant. Australia, millions of years ago as today, had the strangest assortment of giant wildlife on the planet, including Diprotodon (giant wombat), Procoptodon (giant short-faced kangaroo) and Thylacoleo (marsupial lion), as well as nonmammalian megafauna like Bullockornis (better known as the demon-duck of doom), the giant turtle Meiolania, and the giant monitor lizard Megalania (the largest land-dwelling reptile since the extinction of the dinosaurs). The Extinction of the Giant Mammals Although elephants, rhinoceroses, and assorted large mammals are still with us today, most of the worlds megafauna died off anywhere from 50,000 to 2,000 years ago, an extended demise known as the Quaternary extinction event. Scientists point to two main culprits: first, the global plunge in temperatures caused by the last Ice Age, in which many large animals starved to death (herbivores from lack of their usual plants, carnivores from lack of herbivores), and second, the rise of the most dangerous mammals of them all—humans. Its still unclear to what extent the woolly mammoths, giant sloths, and other mammals of the late Pleistocene epoch succumbed to hunting by early humans—this is easier to picture in isolated environments like Australia than across the whole extent of Eurasia. Some experts have been accused of overstating the effects of human hunting, while others (perhaps with a view to endangered animals today) have been charged with undercounting the number of mastodons the average Stone Age tribe could bludgeon to death. Pending further evidence, we may never know for sure.

Democracy - 1783 Words

Democracy in America Democracy in America Democracy in America has changed through the years. We started out a republic and in some ways we still are, but in other ways we have turned into a democracy and in some ways we have turned into a socialist country. We still have the vote and the Electoral College. That is an example of how we are still a republic. An example of how we have turned to democracy is the unions. When a union gets together and votes on something such as a strike, that is mob rule and, with the exception of making a deal, there is nothing that anyone can do. An example of how we have become more socialist is the fact that the progressives want to make everything equal and with the current President and Senate, they†¦show more content†¦The Presidential office has changed over time. When this country was first founded and separated from Great Britain, the President, when there finally was one, worked for the people and not for his party. As time has gone by, the President has more often than not pushed for whatever his party has wanted and not necessarily what the people have wanted. Also, the President has more and more pushed things for his own agenda as opposed to the good of the country. I think the framers of the Constitution should have written that in order to be President, the person running should have to have been in the military and also have to have been in some sort of political office or executive in a business. I think that if this was written into the Constitution, this country would be in much better shape than it is today. One other item that the President has is executive power. I believe he uses that power entirely too much. There are certain times when the President should not be allowed to use that power. Our current President has abuse that power. There should be a limit on how many times he can use it and for what. Also, the presidential power of pardoning of prisoners is abused in some cases. Take Bill Clinton for example; he par doned over 300 people during his presidency but over 140 people were on his last day. Many of those people were violent or drug users and sellers. The power of pardon should be taken away and given to the senate to be voted on or taken awayShow MoreRelatedDemocracy Is Not A Democracy1297 Words   |  6 Pages â€Å"Democracy... while it lasts is more bloody than either aristocracy or monarchy. Remember, democracy never lasts long. It soon wastes, exhausts, and murders itself. There is never a democracy that did not commit suicide.† said by John Adams Defines our country s government to a tea Democracy commonly refers to a type of political system in which the people or their representatives lawfully govern themselves, rather than being governed, say, by a military dictatorship, totalitarian party or monarchRead MoreDemocracy : Democracy Vs. Democracy1589 Words   |  7 PagesDemocracy is a Greek invention, first practiced in the ancient Greek city of Athens. In the late 20t h century, Democracy triumphed over all other major ideological systems, so overpowering was its victory that former critics now began to advocate their own democratic credentials. The vigorous rise of democracy has continued ever since and today there are over 112 self-proclaimed democratic countries around the world(Kekic 2007), whether all these countries are truly democratic or not is debatableRead MoreDemocracy And Its Impact On Democracy965 Words   |  4 Pages How are they related to democracy, concepts discuss the procedures that make democracy possible. Democracy related to our lives by looking for the right thing to do, for every one of us have equality and freedom of speech, we could have multiple ideas it might change the ideology of the country, we also could related the democracy by looking at the facts. The facts are Free Elections, Political Participation, Civil Liberties, and Functioning Government. The democracy is one of the most common typesRead MoreDemocracy And Its Impact On Democracy1329 Words   |  6 Pages Democracy is a particular form of government the means, â€Å"ruled by the people†. The Greeks are widely credited for the concept of democracy, around six B.C. Many political science experts consider the early Greek government, to be a perfect for of democracy. People had the ability to decide various government issues, and the right to suffrage. Through out time, the concept of democracy was established by many nations. The United States, is widely credited on making democracy widely used aroundRead MoreDemocracy : A Perfect Democracy1398 Words   |  6 PagesDemocracy at its purest form is a system of government, which allows each and every citizen to participate actively and equally in the decisions being made. In a perfect democracy, the decisions made the government are perfect representations of what the people want. In reality, a perfect democracy is nearly impossible, especially when dealing with a population as large as the United States, but there are still techniq ues and systems that can be implemented into a society in which democracy can beRead MoreDemocracy And Its Effect On Democracy894 Words   |  4 PagesDemocracy in its most basic form is a type of governing system ruled by the citizens of a particular society. The first form of democracy can be found in ancient Greece, and the modern form of Democracy was established in part by the French revolution because it brought back the idea of rule by the people. Although, for most of history democracy was not viewed in a positive light. According to Mintz, Close, and Croci many people feared democracy because they thought the masses would not act withRead MoreDemocracy And Its Effect On Democracy Essay2111 Words   |  9 PagesOver the past quarter-century, democracy has stood at the center of political debate in many countries and it is a constant concern of the political and social sciences. Since its origins in ancient Greece, democracy was seen as a form of government where power was exercised by the people, that is, where political decisions were made by the majority. Today, democracy enjoys great recognition, but it is important to bear in mind that where democracy is now the preferred constitution, we can not forgetRead MoreDemocracy And Its Lack Of Democracy2099 Words   |  9 Pagesoligarchy, democracy, and tyranny. Most shocking critique throughout the discussion is about democracy and its ineffectiveness to rule. Plato’s disagreement of democracy does not involve of what we are acquainted with today, but rather the idea of democracy. Plato explores the central strain of the government that is acknowledged with liberty and fairness. Also, this form of government known for its embracement of freedom and equality. Plato’s description and disagreement about democracy is correctRead MoreDemocracy843 Words   |  4 PagesDemocracy Essay 1 Democracy is a means for the people to choose their leaders and to hold their leaders accountable for their policies and their conduct in office. The key role of citizens in a democracy is to participate in public life. Democracy is also a system of rule by laws, not by individuals. Democracy is not a government. It is a way of thinking and a responsibilityRead MoreDemocracy949 Words   |  4 Pages112 American Government Professor: Dr. Moon Park Term Paper 03/17/15 Is United States of America a Democratic country? Democracy has been defined as a government structure which people are involved in decision making about it either directly or through by the representatives whom they have chosen by open vote. In a perfect sensing world ideal of perfect democracy could be described as all citizens are well informed in every topics of issues occurring around them such as human abuse, employment

Adaptation And Evolution free essay sample

The Scientific Method is the most logical way in order to prove whether your hypothesis is wrong or not. Many processes are counted before a result of a test can be considered as a law or a theory. In this case a hypothesis can in a way or another also be considered as the theory. Â  As an environmental science teacher, I would explain that in this generation, what was nearest thing to the truth is the one that is gaining the advantage to belong to the set of things that can be considered as true. If the basis of the statement is scientific then I can say that he should say otherwise. It is a convention that before a certain fact is considered as true it must satisfy the scientific method of doing things. Biological evolution is a theory because in the duration of its study they had reached the point wherein they come up with the scientific model that could be viewed as the approximation to the truth. Only approximation could be attained due to the fact that the things that we know in this world are constantly changing and is based on the current knowledge or scientific observations that we had.(Moran, 2003) Â  The theory therefore of biological evolution is the nearest thing to the truth in this generation. We cannot absolutely say that it is the truth because no one in this world knows all the facts and necessary data to back up the biological evolution and at the same time prove that we came from creation of GOD in heaven. another thing is that we do not know the things that might happen maybe in the near future another fact is to be known to the rest of us that can totally alter the ‘truths’ that we consider today. Since science does not deal with absolute truths but with hypothesis theories and models that had undergone intelligent trials and comparisons from the past and in the present it is nearest to the truth and at the same time could be explained scientifically unlike the unexplainable nature of the creation. Creation is only explainable in terms of religion but there is no tangible evidence that it had occurred unlike the biological evolution which had presented every detail of the assumption and had been tested in time. In other words I could explain that the statement had been said due to the technical misconception of the word theory and also due to the never ending battle between the creationists and biologists on who is telling the absolute truth. Evolution through natural selection as the earth’s history told us would take years and even millions of it to take place or before a certain ‘evolved species’ would materialize. In this case the effectivity of the proposed solution to the increasing pollution in the air is not possible for another ten or million year. When this happened then the environment would greatly suffer. As of today, the efforts of minimizing the use of chemicals and other industrial inputs are high but with minimal results. The environment is continually depleting from the robust and sound area to live by. The effect of air pollution in the environment is increasing thus making the earth an area less safe for its inhabitants. The climate change (global warming) is one of the results of the pollutions in the air that is very alarming. It causes changes in the environment that we can no longer tolerate in the near future. If the scenario continue to take its toll there would come a time that we can no longer live in this earth. The neglect that most of us had done is now a big ghost that would hunt us in our dreams. The depletion of our natural resources and the degradation of the environment is beginning to prove their importance in our life by giving us little or very minimal harvest and lots of pest and diseases to compete with our crops resulting to less and less foods available in the market. The above statements are very important in order for me to explain my response in the second statement/question. As an environmental science teacher, I must be able to explain first the implications of the pollution in the environment and the whole world to be general. What I was trying to explain is that there is a possibility that evolution of species with developed lungs to detoxify the pollutants would materialize in the future. That we cannot deny the fact that human beings evolve thru time in accordance to the environment that they live in. With all this facts in hand, we can say that it is true but come to think of it. Do we have to wait for that thing to happen and let the environment work for itself for its survival? Don’t we think that we owe nature or the earth for our existence and we should as a sign of gratitude do something to save the earth from total depletion and destruction? Through time that would elapse in the long wait of the evolution process, are we sure that there are still the place called the earth by then? In short we cannot deny the evolution process to happen and at the same time we cannot just let the earth to be destroyed as we wait for the moment in our existence that we had developed the lungs that can detoxify the pollutants in the air. If the evolution happens then good. We had acquired another form of survival mechanism but in order to live and have a place to live we must be concern about the welfare of the environment. References: Moran ,Lawrence. Evolution is a Fact and A Theory. 2002. http://www.talkorigins.org/faqs/evolution-fact.html

Ford Motor Company Case Study Essay Example

Ford Motor Company Case Study Paper Ford Motor Case Study Table of Contents Executive Summary Introduction Issue Identification Environmental and Root Cause Analysis Alternatives and Options Recommendations Implementation Monitor and Control Exhibits 3 4 5 6 8 10 11 12 13 After reviewing Ford Motor supply chain, we became aware of its very complex nature. Due to this complexity we are forced to search for alternatives to overcome the costly supply chain challenges faced by our industry both now and in the future. The present system has an inefficient control of a large database and a vast and complex network of suppliers. We need to change our supply chain in order to make it more cost effective and profitable. After careful analysis we recommend the implementation of a partial virtual integration system, similar to the system used by Dell Computers. With this system, Ford will use information technology and the internet to interact and transact with both their suppliers and their customers. Ford can increase their sales by providing better customer service and faster communication from the supply end through to the manufacturing division and right on to their end user, the customer. This system will be implemented with their xisting supply chain so Ford will cover both markets at the same time. If Ford concentrated only on the virtual system their competition would put them out of business, so by running both systems simultaneously will give them an edge over their competition. Ford Motor Company is the second largest industrial corporation in the world with revenues of more than $144 billion and about 370,000 employees. Their operations span more than 200 countries worldwide. The company has both the design and manufacturing of cars division and they have a financial services division. We will write a custom essay sample on Ford Motor Company Case Study specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Ford Motor Company Case Study specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Ford Motor Company Case Study specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Significant evenues and profits are realized in both divisions. The automobile industry has grown very competitive over the last two decades with not only competition being felt from the other two US automakers, General Motors and Chrysler, but also from foreign manufacturers like Toyota, Honda and Nissan. The industry is also facing an increasing over-capacity as developing nations realize the wealth and Job-producing effects of automobile manufacturing, and are encouraged to develop and expand their own export auto industries. The main issue with Ford is the management of their large data base of business artners, in particular their first tier suppliers and their second tier suppliers. When we compare Ford to Dell (See Exhibit 1) we realize that Dell only has about 50 suppliers, but Ford has thousands of suppliers that operate in a very complex network of business relationships. Each Dell computer system is made up of less than a hundred parts, whereas an automobile requires several thousand parts. In addition, where Dell sells directly to the consumer, Ford has a large number of dealerships who are spread through a large geographical area throughout the world. To manage both the suppliers and consumers in a single supply chain is a challenge for Ford. Ford is constantly looking for new ways to better control and to manage its supply chain in a more productive and cost effective way. Another issue faced by Ford is the lack of technology in their first tier business partners. This lack of technology makes it difficult for these suppliers to keep up with Fords demands. It results in a bottle neck situation for the supply chain. This lack of IT technology results in miscommunication and poor coordination between the suppliers which ay result in longer lead times, higher costs and other problems. Because Ford has used independent dealers to sell their vehicles, they dont have control on their end users, the customers. This lack of control, plus the dealers markups, has negatively impacted their ability to control the consumers service experience. Root Cause Analysis Fords main business is the production and distribution of vehicles. Ford also earns substantial revenues and profits from their financial division. These two divisions have resulted in net incomes of over $7 billion and a return on sales of 4% which is rending upward. These results show that Ford has a strong market and financial position. In order to increase their global share, Ford teamed with Chrysler and General Motors to work on the Automotive Network Exchange which aimed to create consistency in technology standards and processes in the supplier network, so that suppliers would not have to manage different means of interaction with each automobile manufacturer. These actions have enabled these American manufacturers to produce better quality vehicles at a reduced cycle time and lower costs due to economies of scale. Ford merged with Daimler-Benz in 1998 and in 1999 Ford also acquired Volvo. These mergers have increased Fords database of suppliers substantially. This has also made their supply chain even more complex and expensive to run and even more difficult to manage. In order to manage these supply chain issues, Ford implemented their Ford 2000 plan, which worked to restructure many of Fords key processes like Order to Delivery and Ford Production System. Their goal was to reduce OTD from 60 or more days, down to less than 15 days. They wanted to convert their supply chain from a push type toa pull type (See Exhibit 2). Fords goal was also to reduce the number of their suppliers and in turn create a more cost effective supply chain. Ford worked with their suppliers to help them better manage their own operations. Another initiative started by Ford was the Ford Retail Network which aims to reduce competition among its own dealerships in the same areas, by having one unified dealer who provides the best possible service to their customers. Our decision now is to either implement Dells supply chain model or not! There are a number of approaches we can take to improve our supply chain. We ould design a system that is a mixture of both an online system and our tradition dealership system. We would have to form procedures to enable customization and ordering by customers over the internet, but we would also have to maintain our traditional dealerships as well. The advantages of this two type system would be the customers would have the ability to customize their own vehicles. This would be basically building a vertically integration business model. This would open new markets and attract clients who prefer to shop online. The disadvantages of this system would be the cost. It would be time consuming and require both internal and external changes with would be difficult to handle and integrate with existing systems. Also the independent dealerships would most likely complain that their own supplier is now a competitor for their customers. Also if Fords own suppliers do not have the abilities to keep up with the speed of Fords IT system, there would be cause for more problems. Another option would be to create a virtually integrated system based on Dells model. Ford and all their suppliers would share information between their systems and the internet to coordinate the flow of materials and roduction. The orders would be taken either by phone or on the internet. Basically Ford would be creating a complete pull system. The advantages of this option would be the same as the first option, the customers would have the ability to customize their own vehicles. The customers requirements are met faster with higher profits being realized due to the elimination of the dealers mark up. Also Ford would be able to directly control the customer service. They would have minimal inventory carrying costs and higher order lead times. They would also improve their ability forecast demand. There would also be an improved relationship with both the customer and the supplier. The disadvantages would be that Ford would have to change their traditional processes and production methods in order to take advantage of this new form of supply chain management. This would definitely be a more risky option due to the costly and time consuming processes. Another problem would be the loss of dealerships, which may also result in this traditional shopping customer going to the competition. Our recommendation would be to implement the first option outlined in the Alternatives and Options, which is to extend its virtual business strategy by mplementing a partial version of the Dell model of supply chain management. The dealers would still play a role in the distribution since the experience of buying a car from a dealership cannot be replaced by something virtual like an online system like Dells. Combining the virtual integration model to their existing supply chain will ensure that Ford has a more efficient and profitable future. Their overhead and inventory costs will decrease, and Ford will be in a better position to interact with their customers. Most importantly the success of this recommendation will mainly depend on the performance of the shareholder value. Implementation Plan In order for Ford to implement this new system, their IT systems should be centralized and shared with their suppliers. Since its tier two and tier three suppliers may not be able to update their IT systems, Fords sharing of their system will aid the suppliers to implement this new virtual system. Suppliers would have access to central design database while Ford controls the access and functionality as per their operational requirements. The IT system would ensure a smooth flow of supplies and reduce any congestion and improve the efficiency of the supply chain nd more importantly, give Ford a competitive edge. The dealerships can play a more involved role by forecasting customer demand and Ford should involve an outside company to help them with the forecasting demand and work with each dealer. In order for the new system to function properly Ford must have an IT specialist to coordinate all IT activities with the suppliers in order to ensure a smooth flow of information between the supply chain partners. This IT specialist should resolve any issues as soon as they arise. Lead times on all online orders should be monitored egularly to ensure that the time trom the customer order to delivery is being met at the predetermined optimum time. Another way to monitor the performance of the system is to start an online customer satisfaction program where the customers can evaluate and rate their experience with Ford. The new system should be review semi-annually to ensure the ideal performance is being met, and if not, make recommendations on improvements to senior management. It is also important to ensure the shareholder value is increasing. This could be done through annual meetings with all executives to review the progress of the new system.

Comparison Between Frank Fischer and Brian Martin essays

Comparison Between Frank Fischer and Brian Martin essays There are many ideas on how much influence experts have on a society and how much influence society has on the expert. Without one or the other, neither would exist. Either that, or this world would be quite different if it was made up of only experts or only the common citizen. If the world were made up of only the common citizen, everyone would be taking care of his or her own. Nobody would be working for the expert, voting for the expert, criticizing the expert, looking up on the expert, or even preparing to be an expert himself or herself. But without the common citizen, the expert would have nobody to impress, nobody to influence, nobody to work for, and nobody to guide, or even nobody to get feedback from. In the book Citizens, Experts, and the Environment, by Frank Fischer, the author writes about the relationship between the citizen and the expert. In the book, Confronting the Experts, by Brian Martin, the author also writes about the relationship between the citizen and the expert and the conflicts between the experts vs. the expert. He also includes a few case articles from different individuals who wrote about their experiences with experts. Another well-known author is Thomas Kuhn, who came up with the term paradigm, which deals with shaping how you deal with things. Kuhn described it as a collection of beliefs shared by scientists, a set of agreements about how problems are to be understood. In Fischers book, Fischer focuses on public policy. He questions the role of citizens, whether citizens are knowledgeable enough to participate in a world where technology is way over our heads, or have the expert make the decisions for everyone because after all, they are the experts. He adds that citizen participation is low and that it can have some kind of impact on democracy. He defines citizen participation as deliberation on issues affecting ones own life . So ...

Are reason and emotion equally necessary in justifying moral decisions Essay - 5

Are reason and emotion equally necessary in justifying moral decisions - Essay Example A second way of knowing is through personal experience or self-witnessing. The media sources like newspapers and television may or may not always be trustworthy. One needs to use his or her own discretion elaborately before trusting the information. Sometimes we may believe in a certain aspect merely by our personal inspiration or intuition. This is the third way of knowing. Some concepts and ideas take birth in our brains and remain there as a piece of knowledge gained. Sometimes we might just rely on a feeling and an inner guidance that may lead us to the truth or the right path. A fourth way of knowing is by using reason and careful analysis. This is a powerful approach where knowledge may be gained by critically and logically analyzing the other three cases. (â€Å"Measurement, Evaluation & Research: Ways of Knowing†, 2008) Now, when we look at all the ways of knowing, we may conclude that finally each of them is flawed. As far as the first way is concerned, the book or text might consist of misprints and errors. There may be some information, which might differ from one book to another. Personal experience or eye witnessing is also dependent upon optical illusion or error of vision. Personal inspiration or intuition might also become invalidated or reason might not support this personal opinion. Again, reason might be right to one but wrong to another. Hence this way of gaining knowledge is not a valid one. However, Kerlinger provides a different angle to validate the four different ways. The first case, that is gaining knowledge by reading signifies a group’s belief and can be taken as the truth. This is the process of tenacity where the knowledge is common to a certain group. (Kerlinger 1973) In the second case, the personal experience one gains is at least true to the person concerned. The third method may be justified on the basis of personal intuition. Such a way of knowing may be justified on the basis of individual belief and

Strategic Management Involvement Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Strategic Management Involvement - Essay Example This pattern in decisions as well as actions clearly defines what Mintzberg called "realized" strategy. The examples given below clearly describe the situations in which this realized strategy will completely fail: External analysis is clearly described by Fahey and Narayanan (1986), they imply that organizations always in order scan the environment to recognize the ever changing trends and new patterns, keep an eye on all the specific trends as well as patterns, estimate the future course of the monitored changes and patterns, and then in the analysis the organizational impact these changes and patterns will have on the organization (Dolence etal 1997). Merged long with internal analysis of the organization's, well defined vision , mission statement , strengths, and weaknesses, external analysis greatly helps decision makers in creating strategic directions as well as strategic plans. The first and foremost goal of environmental scanning is to make the decision makers aware of the potentially important external changes long before they take shape so that decision makers have enough lead time to act in response to predicted the change. Therefore, environmental scanning plays a very important role for the organizations to manage change (Capon 1987). Environment Domains is a very board area, External environment refers to those people, resources, leadership and communication structures existing outside the organizational structure which may involve the following sector Industry sector Raw material sector Financial sector Market sector Technology sector Government sector International sector Internal and External Analysis Internal analysis of the organization is a practice that to help us to identifying the Strengths and weakness of the company, which point out some key factors that able the organization to get a better advantage of the market. And the most common tools are Core