Tuesday, April 14, 2020
Napoleons Strategy and Tactics in His Invasion of Russia
Table of Contents Introduction Napoleonââ¬â¢s Strategy and Tactics Conclusion Annotated Bibliography Introduction Napoleon was a great emperor of France with novel military strategies and tactics that enabled him to conquer his enemies and neighboring empires in a bid to expand his territory. His determination to win battles came from his confession that ââ¬Å"there is no man more pusillanimous than I when I am planning a campaign.Advertising We will write a custom term paper sample on Napoleonââ¬â¢s Strategy and Tactics in His Invasion of Russia specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More I purposely exaggerate all the dangers and all the calamities that the circumstances make possibleâ⬠¦I am like an unmarried girl laboring with childâ⬠(Nafziger 1989, 23). He derived his military strategies and tactics from inherent fears that kept him on toes due to the imminent battles that revolved in the neighboring empires. The fea rs of losing a battle were constantly haunting him and this prompted him to draw novel strategies and tactics to overcome his enemies. During the great battle of Borodino when he attacked Russia, he demonstrated his military potential and ability to conquer ferocious enemies despite their military prowess. Critical analysis of Napoleonââ¬â¢s strategies and tactics show that his military approach to the decisive Russian battle was quite effective and is still invaluable in contemporary warfare. Napoleonââ¬â¢s Strategy and Tactics Although Napoleon exercised his military powers during the early 19th century, his strategies and tactics are still applicable in the 21st century. According to Nafziger, ââ¬Å"â⬠¦his campaigns formed the basis of military education throughout the western world and a lot of military thinking is still influenced by the great Frenchmanâ⬠(1989, 26). Since his military strategies and tactics have stood the test of time, which is about two centur ies now, and can still prove to be invaluable in this era of great technology, then it shows that his military skills were and still are quite effective. The effectiveness of military strategies and tactics depends on the ability of military commander to mobilize his armies and resources effectively. Napoleon applied time and space as the components of logistics that are necessary to win a decisive battle when he invaded Russia in 1812. By 1812, Napoleon had led France to become a mighty empire in Europe and he boasted the great achievement that he had made. Given the military status of the French Empire, Napoleon was poised to invade and conquer the independent states of Europe. To achieve his mission, ââ¬Å"he managed to destroy the unity of purpose which had fed the coalitions against France for so long, as Austria, Russia and Prussia were now ready to fight each other as well as to fight Franceâ⬠(Tarle Viktorovich 1979, 356).Advertising Looking for term paper on his tory? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Napoleon knew that the unity of independent European states threatened and would eventually ruin his powerful empire and there would be no legacy left for him and his successor, so he had to destroy their unity before conquering Russia individually. Therefore, he employed the tactic of dividing and conquering. The unique strategy that Napoleon employed as a military commander is the use of military professionalism. Many of his successors regard Napoleon as premier general who conceptualized new strategies and tactics in terms of structure and composition of strong armies; impregnable in the face of threatening enemies. ââ¬Å"Napoleon embodied the idea of the professional military leader, not gaining his position through familial or political connection, but earning it by distinguishing himself in combatâ⬠(Hoffman 2005, 122). In his military professionalism, Napoleon took two years in mak ing logistical planning to invade Russia, for he realized that decisive battles demanded proper logistics. Due to his logistical approach to battles, many generals have appreciated his approach and have applied his strategies and tactics, which have proved to give consistent successes in various wars. His presence during war made great difference, as he was indispensable in mobilization of resources and troops. Since Napoleon harbored many fears concerning his great empire, which he had managed to hold together through immense challenges, he wanted to guard it jealously without overlooking any possible threats albeit negligible. Napoleon argues that, ââ¬Å"â⬠¦when I am planning a campaign, I purposely exaggerate all the danger and all calamities that circumstances make possibleâ⬠(Olszewski 2005, 32). This strategy gave him the advantage in case the potential threat of the enemy was underestimated. During the Russia invasion, Napoleon never at any instance overlooked or un derestimated the battle and consequences that arose, for in his logistical skills, he provided for the worst-case scenarios that were bound to occur in decisive battles like Russia invasion that cost the lives of many soldiers. Primary strategy of Napoleon was to identify the enemy. Identifying the location, composition, and structure of the enemies highlighted any possible threats and imminent calamities, which were very critical in determining whether to go ahead with the battle or not. If the battle was inevitable, then effective strategies and tactics were necessary to combat the enemy.Advertising We will write a custom term paper sample on Napoleonââ¬â¢s Strategy and Tactics in His Invasion of Russia specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Hardeman (2006) notes that, ââ¬Å"when facing a foe superior in numbers, the strategy of the central position was employed to split the enemy into separate parts, each of which could then be eliminated in turn by adroit maneuveringâ⬠¦Ã¢â¬ (175). With this strategy, though overwhelmed by the Russian armies, Napoleon armies managed to kill more of them as compared to their armies who died in the decisive battle. In this case, central position strategy proved useful in combating armies who were mightier while incurring minimal losses and injuries. Napoleon also utilized the strategy of Battalion Square and the tactic of outflanking his enemies. The Battalion Square consisted of an advance guard, which was to identify the enemy, right and left wings who acted as combating troops that marched within the range where they could offer emergency support to both advancing and reserved troops. At the rear end of the advancing army was a reserved troop, which provided extra support in case the advance troop retreated. Rainey argues that, ââ¬Å"Napoleon could use a mere part of his force to tie down and occupy the attention of one enemy, then rapidly move his remaining force s to build up a local superiority against his enemiesâ⬠(2006, 158). When Napoleon had built local superiority, he employed the tactic of flanking to combat the Russian armies who were too strong for him to conquer, but at least he demonstrated artful military combat. Conclusion Despite the astounding defeat that Napoleon met during his war against Russia, he demonstrated logistical strategies and tactics that many generals consider artful and worth acquiring in the current generation. Napoleon left military legacy as his successors credit him a military genius who made great impact in military reforms and shaped the approaches of decisive battles. His strategies and tactics still echo through 21st century since military academies recognize and approve them as effective and worth learning. Although Napoleon armies terribly suffered after invading Russia, this does not mean that their strategies were ineffective; only that the Russian armies were many, organized, and smarter. An notated Bibliography Hardeman, Richard. ââ¬Å"General Logistics Paradigm: A study of the Logistics O Alexander, Napoleon and Sherman.â⬠Air Force Logistics Management Agency 26, no. 13 (2006): 120-125.Advertising Looking for term paper on history? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Compares and contrasts logistical strategies and tactics, which great men like Napoleon, Alexander and Sherman employed in their military leadership to conquer battles. It underscores the fact that military logistics forms the central part of effective strategies in decisive battles. Hoffman, Smith. ââ¬Å"Logistics of Waging War.â⬠American Military Logistics Journal 12, no. 4 (2005): 172-189. Emphasizes the importance of military professionalism by applying logistical planning and consultation, in order to accommodate varied ideas that are paramount in assessing looming threats and dangers. Napoleon demonstrated professionalism in his logistical planning to invade Russia. Nafziger, George. Napoleonââ¬â¢s Strategy and Tactics. Ancient Military Journal 58, no. 6 (1989): 17-31. Describes Napoleon strategies and tactics such as divisive diplomacy, military professionalism, logistics, structuring, and composition of the advancing armies. His strategies and tactics enabled him t o survive annihilation during the Russian Invasion. Olszewski, Zbigniew. ââ¬Å"The Battle of Borodino, 1812.â⬠Napoleon Military Conquest 16, no. 9 (2005): 24-47. Portrays Napoleonââ¬â¢s insecure and unassuming character for he never overlooked or underestimated the danger an enemy poses to his empire. It further outlines causes and subsequent implications of the Russia invasion by Napoleon. Rainey, James. Old Lessons New Thoughts. New York: DIANE Publishing, 2006. Explains how old strategies and tactics can be applied into the contemporary world. It also confirms that old lessons of Napoleon strategies and tactics are still invaluable in the current warfare. Tarle, Eugene, and Viktorovich Evgenil. Napoleonââ¬â¢s Invasion of Russia, 1812. New York: Octagon Books, 1979. Analyses strategies and tactics that Napoleon used to invade Russian and gives the strengths and weaknesses that led to eventual defeat of the Napoleon armies. This term paper on Napoleonââ¬â¢s Strategy and Tactics in His Invasion of Russia was written and submitted by user Abbigail Mills to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.
Wednesday, March 11, 2020
Outline the principle strengths and weaknesses of accounting and business research. The WritePass Journal
Outline the principle strengths and weaknesses of accounting and business research. Abstract: Outline the principle strengths and weaknesses of accounting and business research. Abstract:Introduction:Research method:à Case I company:Case I data:Case II company:Case II data: à à à Method used:à à à à Case IFirst phase:Second phase:à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à Case IIStrengths:Weaknesses:References:à Related Abstract: This project/essay is broadly based on a research article ââ¬Å"The management of accounting number: case study evidence from the crash of an airlineâ⬠by Ann Jorissen and David Otiey (2009 publishing date) and ââ¬Å"Earnings quality in ex-post failed firmsâ⬠by Juan Manuel Garcà a Lara, Beatriz Garcà a Osma and Evi Neophytou (December 2008 publishing date). Main body is mostly concentrated on the research methods used and the strengths and weaknesses of the two approaches and the methodologies used by the researchers in these empirical papers. Introduction: The empirical papers which I have chosen for ââ¬Å"accounting and business researchâ⬠have done research on an ââ¬Å"airline companyâ⬠{Case I} and ââ¬Å"bankrupt firmsâ⬠{Case II} and they have conducted several interview, used multi-theory method (upper-echelons, power-circulation strategic choice) and sampling method many models to justify there research respectively. Research method:à Case I company: à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à The researchers had selected SA irgroup (former Swiss Air) as there case company to study process and mechanism triggering to manipulation of accounting numbers. Case I data: à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à Interview of different ex-employees was conducted and different categories of archival data were used by researchers like: i.à Bonus and stock option plan SA ir-Executives 1997-2000; ii. Bonus and stock option plan Sabena Executives 1999-2000: etc was used. Case II company: The researchers selected a junk of companies of UK by sampling method which had gone bankrupt and had data available in FAME entering bankruptcy 1998-2204 or continuing firms which had full data available in FAME 1995-2004. Case II data: à à The data used by researchers was taken from the FAME. à à à Method used: à à à à Case I à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à They analyzed data in two phases wherein embedded design was employed which implied multiple levels of analysis (Eisenhardt, 1989). They had adopted interview method for there research but also included archival data. There research was based on both accounting as well as management perspective. First phase: In the first stage they arranged data in chronological order and reviewed all internal and external data available. Herein they analyzed data in directionality of the relationships assumed in traditional accounting research. They used a multiple case approach by considering each investment of the SA irgroup in a foreign airline. Each case they analyzed served to confirm inferences drawn from the analysis of the choices made in relation to the SA irgroups first investment in Sabena (Yin, 2003). The collection of data on all accounting and real choices with regard to all events and transactions would involve an immense amount of data so they used ââ¬Å"disaggregated approachâ⬠. Second phase: à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à The analysis in second phase is based on theories like upper-echelons, strategic choice and power circulation. Then by combining results of the both phases they could explain more about the directionality between the different variables, one employed in financial misrepresentation and the other employed to create the necessary discretion to engage in managing accounting numbers. à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à Case II In the first stage they collected all data they needed for the research via sampling method and then they used ââ¬Å"working capital versionâ⬠model of Jones (1991). They used this model first because research had indicated that management had more discretion over current accruals and moreover manipulation of long-term accruals such as depreciation was unlikely due to their high visibility low flexibility (Becker et al 1998; Young, 1999). After working capital version model they used ââ¬Å"modified jones modelâ⬠which works on the assumption that revenues are not discretionary i.e. the model disregards that managers also engage in real activities manipulation. The next model which they have used was ââ¬Å"Kasznik modelâ⬠(1999). The model incorporates the change in operating cash flow as an explanatory variable to account for the negative correlation between accruals and cash flows. The formula to obtain a measure of abnormal working capital according to Kasznik model is as under: Where, WCA is working capital accruals, ÃâREV is change in sales, ÃâCFO is change in cash flow from operations and TA are total assets, and t is the time period indicator. Next, for each firm, we calculate abnormal working capital accruals (AWCA) as follows: Where, à ¢0,à ¢1 andà ¢2 are the fitted industry-coefficients from equation. After Kasznik model they used Chariton et.al (2004) model to calculate the ex-ante one-year-ahead probability of bankruptcy of all failed firms. The formula what they used to calculate it is as under: Where, Pjt (Y = 1) is the probability of failure for entity j at the end of year t. The next model they used was of Roychowdhury (2006) Ball and Shiva kumar (2005). The earlier model was used to analyze the existence of real activities manipulation. Herein was focus was on sales manipulation. The later model was used to measure the different recognition speed of economics gains and losses in earnings by using time series accruals based measures of conditional conservatism. Strengths: à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à Case Ià à à à à à à à à à à à à à à Case II à à à à à à i.à à à à à à à à à à à Inclusion of both perspective i.e. accounting management (multiple methods) helped them for understanding the process of financial misrepresentation while as previous studies used accounting perspective only which couldnââ¬â¢t give much clarifications of the process. à à à ii.à à à à à à à à à à à This multi-theory perspective allowed them to discover various additional elements of discretion on top of the variables used in the extant literature. à iii.à à à à à à à à à à à According to me face-to-face interviews as conducted by the researchers is that the answer of the interviewee is more spontaneous, without any extended reflection and manipulation. à iv.à à à à à à à à à à à This disaggregated approach has the potential advantage of yielding precise, directional predictions based on the researches understanding and Analysis of how decision-à à à à à à à à à makers trade off the incentives associated with the accounting object of the study (Francis, 2001). à à à v.à à à à à à à à à à à The biggest advantage what these researchers had was having access to groupââ¬â¢s internal information which helped a lot in carrying out there researches and justifying there conclusions. a)à à à à Jones working capital modified model could analyze a proxy for manipulation capturing only pure accounting manipulation a proxy that pools together accounting and real activities manipulation.b)à à By using UK sample they were advantageous as the insolvency code are allowed for a wider definition of bankruptcy, with different implications, than in the US (Franks et al 1996; Bradbury, 2007). c)à à à The best part of sampling method is that it is straightforward and probably the simplest method and is usually unbiased. d)à à There access to FAME database and deriving data regarding bankrupt companies made an ease in making assessment of these and setting up there research. e)à à à à Since the researchers have selected or used purposive sampling wherein probability of getting astray is minimum and variance is low in this case of sampling. à Weaknesses: à à à à à à à à à à à à à Case I à à à à à à à à à à à à à Case II Interview is a complex and demanding technique (Frey Oishi 1995:02 ) An unusual degree of trust is likely to lead to willingness on the part of the subjects to answer the questions carefully and with validity. This is especially advantageous when the questions are of a sensitive nature (Lull 1990:53). Personal bias may b involved in interview method or understanding factor may become hindrance. According to me data taken by the researchers was too big in size so accuracy of the result was at stake. Sampling method can lead to the consequences of redundancy and thus hampering the accuracy of the result. Using data from data base is complex method and time consuming. à Impact of methodology on my dissertation: The methods used by the researchers to conduct there research i.e. ââ¬Å"samplingâ⬠and ââ¬Å"interviewâ⬠and then applying different models and methodologies to derive the results or elaborate there research gave a perfect insight as to how a research should be conducted and then concluded. But I would like to go for ââ¬Å"interviewâ⬠, ââ¬Å"available public informationâ⬠and ââ¬Å"questionnaireâ⬠method for my dissertation in coming months which would be on ââ¬Å"Development in Banking sector in Kashmirâ⬠most probably. According to me interview method of collecting information is one of the best as the interviewee has very less time to respond and cannot manipulate answers so quickly in his brain and moreover interview method can help in extracting much internal information if the interviewer has those tactics and attitude of extracting as much information as possible. The questionnaire method gives an insight regarding what people or what the s ubject think about the given topic or question, it is one of the easiest methods and helps in figuring out the situation or the subject opinion from there point of view and this method would be the most important for my dissertation. Excess to public information and internal information will give positiveness to the dissertation because sometimes these informationââ¬â¢s contain very important elements which throw light on various aspects which one researcher is looking for. I would try to rectify all disadvantages of the methods and apply then on my dissertation. References:à ââ¬Å"Basic statistics for business and economicsâ⬠by Paul G Hoel and Raymond J. jessen Ball, R. and Shivakumar L. (2005). ââ¬ËEarnings quality in UK private firms: comparative loss recognition timelinessââ¬â¢. Journal of Accounting and Economics, 39(1):83ââ¬â128. ââ¬Å"Elementary business statistics: the modern approachâ⬠by Freud and Williams ââ¬Å"Earnings quality in ex-post failed firmsâ⬠by Juan Manuel Garcà a Lara, Beatriz Garcà a Osma and Evi Neophytou (2008) http://ezproxy1.hw.ac.uk:3114/eds/detail?hid=22sid=2644bf2b-4378-4ae6-bb5f-e0d067d1ee89%40sessionmgr12vid=1bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWRzLWxpdmU%3d#db=buhAN=39883573 Frey Oishi (1995:02) ââ¬Å" how to conduct interviews by telephone in personâ⬠aber.ac.uk/media/students/aeo9702.html Jones, J. J. (1991). ââ¬ËEarnings management during import relief investigationsââ¬â¢. Journal of Accounting Research, 29(2): 193ââ¬â228. Lull, James (1990) ââ¬Å" Inside family viewingâ⬠; London Routledge Roychowdhury, S. (2006). ââ¬Å"Management of earnings through the manipulation of real activities that affect cash flow from operationsâ⬠Journal of Accounting and Economics, 42(3): 335ââ¬â370. ââ¬Å"The management of accounting number: case study evidence from the crash of an airlineâ⬠by Ann Jorissen and David Otiey (2009) http://ezproxy1.hw.ac.uk:3114/eds/detail?hid=22sid=1db6a896-b761-43fb-8f14-c493473c5b2f%40sessionmgr15vid=1bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWRzLWxpdmU%3d#db=buhAN=48633863
Monday, February 24, 2020
The ubiquitin system, disease and drug discovery Research Paper
The ubiquitin system, disease and drug discovery - Research Paper Example According to (Hershko,1998,pg.425-79) ââ¬Å"There are strong indications for roles of the ubiquitin system in development and apoptosis, although the target proteins involved in these cases have not been identified.â⬠.Protein in ubiquting exists in chain format which is linear and consists of amino acids. The degradation of chain is possible and it is thermodynamically possible in an aqueous environment. When the degradation of protein happens this is known as protein ââ¬â turnover. The balance which exists between the synthesis and its degradation determines the concentration level of protein in the cell. The studies conducted over protein turnover rates have revealed that some proteins are long lived while others are short lived. The cell majorly consists of long lived protein while short lived proteins which are regulatory protein are abnormal protein. Source ââ¬â (Hersko,1998,pg 425-79) The Ub has a function to monitor the turnover of protein in the cell by regulati ng the degradation process. This regulatory function is largely important. By regulatory function of Ub the cells are able to eliminate protein that displays another function. Furthermore, such regulation observes that other process expressed by regulatory protein is shut down. There is another regulatory function displayed by the protein which is alternative in nature and it simply inactivates the protein. However, in case of this alternative regulation, these inactivated proteins can be mistakenly reactivated. Unfortunately, the Ub linked regulation is expensive energetically and if a regulation needs to be done once again then re-synthesize should be performed. The functioning of Ub is in a ATP ââ¬â depended pattern. But what is the reason for this? The reason for this in order to target the protein machinery is required that can degrade the protein. The machinery is used just as a tag which marks the protein which needs to be degradation. The degradation is conducted by the 26Sproteasome. Speaking precisely, the proteins that are to be degraded are primarily tagged by conjugating them with ub and these tagged protein are them identified and shuttled to proteasome for the purpose of degradation. Dysfunction in much ubiquitin process has created pathological conditions where there was malignant transformation. Proliferation and cell growth are further controlled by ubiquitin mediated degradation of portooncogenes, tumor suppressors and components of signal transduction systems. The Ubiqutin ââ¬â Proteasome Pathway If we mix ubiqutin, ATP and an abnormal protein we might think that the protein will conjugate with Ub. However, we would be wrong in this assumption. There is something else required to attach Ub to such a protein. The thing that is needs in many cases is the three kinds of enzymes. 1) Ub activating enzyme known as E1 enzyme. This enzyme is required in modifying Ub so that it can be in a reactive condition. 2) Ub conjugative enzyme known as E2 enzyme. This enzyme does the function of catalyzing the attachment of Ub to the substrate protein. 3) Ub ligases know as E3 enzymes. This enzyme function in align with E2 enzymes and this enzyme is important in identifying the substrate protein. Yeast contains many E1, E2 and E3 enzymes. For example. It has been found that yeast contains 13 various E2 enzymes. All these do the function of conjugation but also a specific
Saturday, February 8, 2020
Applying Leadership Styles Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words
Applying Leadership Styles - Essay Example iated by the leadership of Apple include Tim Cook as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and also inspiring employees to work with innovative ideas along with rewarding the employees for motivation. Additionally, previous CEO and charismatic leader of Apple, Steve Jobs shared the vision of launching cell phone in the market besides the computers and motivated the employees to follow his vision (Docstoc, 2012). Generally, there are three styles of leadership namely transactional, transformational and situational leadership styles. Transactional leadership style can be defined as a style of a leader with which he/she promotes acquiescence of the employees with rewards and punishes according to their performances along with focusing on every operation and activity of the organization. In other words, transactional leadership style is also known as managerial leadership style (Dibley, 2009). With due consideration to this aspect, it can be stated that a leader following this style might desire to promote innovation in the organizational operational processes by inclusion of promotions and rewards to obtain best out of the employees. Similarly, it is observed that Appleââ¬â¢s leaders considered this style into its operational process. Appleââ¬â¢s management led by Steve Jobs prudently considered the inclusion of Tim Cook as the new CEO to lead Apple to further growth and prosperity (Docstoc, 2012). Transformational leadership style can be classified as the quality of a leader who changes the state of mind according to the organizational requirements through motivating and implementing various mechanisms, further which also helps the employees to enhance their performances. The roles performed under this style include idealized influence, inspirational motivation and intellectual stimulation. Moreover, idealized influence can be stated as the manager who is identified to be the best in his/her abilities to guide and to respond to the employeesââ¬â¢ requirements.
Wednesday, January 29, 2020
Food, Nutrition and Some Controversies About Mcdonalds Essay Example for Free
Food, Nutrition and Some Controversies About Mcdonalds Essay As you know Mc Donaldââ¬â¢s is a chain of fast food restaurants. In Mc Donaldââ¬â¢s you could find a variety of food for every part of the day. At the morning you will find some breakfast based on eggs, savory sausage and hot cakes. You could also drink some coffee a latte, a cappuccino or maybe a caramel frappe. If you go for lunch you will find the principal menu based on a sandwich and French fries. There are a lot of types of sandwiches: the chicken one, a sandwich made with fish, the variety of hamburgers and also the nuggets. If you want something sweet there are some desserts and many types of ice creams like Mc flurry, sundae or the basic one. In these time most of people want to be fit so they want to eat healthy food and this restaurant offered a menu for these public this menu is based on salad with chicken or a fruit salad. There are a lot of problems related with fast food because of the saturated fat and the low-nutrient that contributes to the body. Thatââ¬â¢s why fast food is also known as junk food. To reduce these problems Mc Donaldââ¬â¢s use now the Canola oil to fry the hamburgers and the French fries. These problems are also why many people prefer to eat the vegetable or fruit salad. In 2004 Morgan Spurlock, an American producer and filmmaker, directed Super Size Me, a movie about a man who ate only McDonaldââ¬â¢s during a whole month. After watching this film people start thinking about how unhealthy fast food is.
Tuesday, January 21, 2020
Memory and History in the Works of Michael Ondaatje :: Biography Biographies Essays
Memory and History in the Works of Michael Ondaatje In the Canadian social context, the issue of identity can be a fraught one, and the question of what it means to be Canadian is notoriously sticky, particularly given the wide variety of social and cultural backgrounds claimed by Canadians and the heterogeneity of their own experiences. This paper deals with the ways in which the Canadian writer Michael Ondaatje works with issues of understanding and accessing memories and histories outside of oneââ¬â¢s personal lived experience. Ondaatjeââ¬â¢s The English Patient opens with an epigraph culled from the minutes of a Geographical Society meeting in London in the early nineteen-forties. It reads: ââ¬Å"Most of you, I am sure, remember the tragic circumstances of the death of Geoffrey Clifton at Gilf Kebir, followed later by the disappearance of his wife, Katherine Clifton, which took place during the 1939 desert expedition in search of Zerzura. ââ¬Å"I cannot begin this meeting tonight without referring very sympathetically to those tragic occurrences. ââ¬ËThe lecture this eveningâ⬠¦Ã¢â¬ The passage introduces a number of key themes in the text, and is worth dealing with at some length. The first issue I want to examine is the opening line. Memory is arguably the most important issue at play in this novel, and its positioning here draws attention to its recurring significance throughout the text. The context of its usage is of particular interest. A later passage notes the attitude of disinterested objectivity, of scientific detachment, that pervades the lecturesââ¬â¢ setting, and the uneasiness of the speakers as they struggle to readjust to the urban and urbane environment. ââ¬ËSomeone will introduce the talkââ¬â¢, it notes, ââ¬Ëand someone will give thanks â⬠¦ [t]he years of preparation and research and fund-raising are never mentioned in these oak rooms â⬠¦ losses in extreme heat or windstorm are announced with minimal eulogy. All human and financial behaviour lies on the far side of the issue being discussed ââ¬â which is the earthââ¬â ¢s surface and its ââ¬Å"interesting geographical problemsâ⬠ââ¬â¢ (134). The tension between the impersonal detachment of the lectureââ¬â¢s atmosphere and the terminology in the epigraph is one that operates through much of Ondaatjeââ¬â¢s work. That tension is in the text that holds together two opposing forces ââ¬â personal, lived memory, and cultural memory. Susan Sontag, in her recent book Regarding the Pain of Others, makes the somewhat contentious claim that ââ¬Ëthere is no such thing as collective memory â⬠¦ all memory is individual, unreproducible ââ¬â it dies with each person.
Monday, January 13, 2020
Managerial Accounting Essay
Accountants and auditors help to ensure that firms are run efficiently, public records kept accurately, and taxes paid properly and on time. They analyze and communicate financial information for various entities such as companies, individual clients, and Federal, State, and local governments. Beyond carrying out the fundamental tasks of the occupationââ¬â providing information to clients by preparing, analyzing, and verifying financial documentsââ¬âmany accountants also offer budget analysis, financial and investment planning, information technology consulting, and limited legal services. Managerial Accounting: Managerial accounting is concerned with providing information to managers ââ¬â that is, people inside an organization who direct and control its operation. Managerial accounting provides the essential data with which the organizations are actually run. Managerial accounting is also termed as management accounting or cost accounting. Standard costing is an important subtopic of cost accounting. Standard costs are usually associated with a manufacturing companyââ¬â¢s costs of direct material, direct labor, and manufacturing overhead. Rather than assigning the actual costs of direct material, direct labor, and manufacturing overhead to a product, many manufacturers assign the expected or standard cost. This means that a manufacturerââ¬â¢s inventories and cost of goods sold will begin with amounts reflecting the standard costs, not the actual costs, of a product. Manufacturers, of course, still have to pay the actual costs. As a result there are almost always differences between the actual costs and the standard costs, and those differences are known as variances. Standard costing and the related variances is a valuable management tool. If a variance arises, management becomes aware that manufacturing costs have differed from the standard (planned, expected) costs. * If actual costs are greater than standard costs the variance is unfavorable. An unfavorable variance tells management that if everything else stays constant the companyââ¬â¢s actual profit will be less than planned. * If actual costs are less than standard costs the variance is favorable. A favorable variance tells management that if everything else stays constant the actual profit will likely exceed the planned profit. Use in Business: Managers rely on cost accounting to provide an idea of the actual expenses of processes, departments, operations or product which is the foundation of their budget, allowing them to analyze fluctuation and the way funds are used socially for profit. It is used in management accounting, where managers justify the ability to cut expenses for a company in order to increase that company? s profit. As a tool for internal use, versus a tool for external users like financial accounting, cost accounting does not need to follow the GAAP standards (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles) because its use is more pragmatic. It is a very important part of the management accounting process. In order for managers to determine the best methods to increase a companyââ¬â¢s profitability, as well as saving a company money in the future, cost accounting is a necessary system in the management of a companyââ¬â¢s budget, providing important data to analyze fluctuation in company production expense.
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