Monday, March 30, 2020

// Maxims Config (aka BananaGaming) Essays - Computing, Alias, BIND

// Maxim's Config (aka BananaGaming) // When you type "//" the game ignores whatever is written after con_enable "1" //Enables Console cl_clanid 7238336 //Use Steam Group Tag "Go Bananas" echo Config Loaded! (1/2) //This confirms that the config has been loaded // Crosshair - Single Yellow Dot Instead of Crosshair (2017-05-04) // Made with Crashz Crosshair Generator cl_crosshair_drawoutline "1" cl_crosshair_dynamic_maxdist_splitratio "0.35" cl_crosshair_dynamic_splitalpha_innermod "1" cl_crosshair_dynamic_splitalpha_outermod "0.5" cl_crosshair_dynamic_splitdist "7" cl_crosshair_outlinethickness "1.000000" cl_crosshair_sniper_show_normal_inaccuracy "0" cl_crosshair_sniper_width "2" cl_crosshairalpha "100.000000" cl_crosshaircolor "5" cl_crosshaircolor_b "0" cl_crosshaircolor_g "255" cl_crosshaircolor_r "255" cl_crosshairdot "1" cl_crosshairgap "-4.000000" cl_crosshairgap_useweaponvalue "0" cl_crosshairscale "0" cl_crosshairsize "0.500000" cl_crosshairstyle "4" cl_crosshairthickness "1.000000" cl_crosshairusealpha "1" cl_fixedcrosshairgap "3" // Viewmodels - Viewmodel Settings viewmodel_offset_x "1" //Changes viewmodel view in X scale viewmodel_offset_y "2" //Changes viewmodel view in Y scale viewmodel_offset_z "-2" //Changes viewmodel view in Z scale viewmodel_fov "68" //Highest viewmodel FOV // Bob - How much you move around with weapons cl_bob_lower_amt "5" //How much the viewmodel lowers when running, set to lowest for less distraction cl_bobamt_lat "0.1" //How much the viewmodel moves side to side when running, set to lowest for less distraction cl_bobamt_vert "0.1" //How much the viewmodel moves up and down when running, set to lowest for less distraction cl_bobcycle "0.98" //The frequency at which the viewmodel bobs, set to default cl_viewmodel_shift_left_amt "0" //Removes shifting of arms cl_viewmodel_shift_right_amt "0" //Removes shifting of arms // Bindings - These bindings bind "v" "+voicerecord" //You can communicate with the V key instead of K bind "f1" "autobuy" //Autobuy weapons if you have lots of money with F1 bind f3 "buy flashbang; buy smokegrenade; buy molotov; buy hegrenade" //Buy flash & smoke with F3 bind "f4" "ignoremsg" //Ignore chat by turning off enemies, teams and both bind "f" "+lookatweapon" //Inspect your weapon with F bind "k" "say !r" //Used together with CKSurf plugin for Bhop, Surf & Kz bind "leftarrow" "+left" //Turn left with arrow key bind "rightarrow" "+right" //Turn right with arrow key unbind "i" //So you don't accidentally enable hud fade, which is very annoying // No Tutorial or Info Messages - Can give FPS BOOST and is also very annoying gameinstructor_enable "0" //Removes in game lessons cl_showhelp "0" //Removes on-screen help cl_autohelp "0" //Removes automatic help cl_disablefreezecam "1" //Disables Freezecam, very important to have off cl_disablehtmlmotd "1" //Removes "Message of the day" page when joining a server // Rates - These network settings are optimized for high speed internet rate "786432" //Max rates. Only use if you can get 8 Megabits per second (Mbps) download speed or more. //rate "250000" //Only use this if you can get 3.5 Megabits per second (Mbps) download speed or more. //rate "500000" //Only use this if you can get 5.5 Megabits per second (Mbps) download speed or more. cl_cmdrate "128" //Max number of command packets sent to server per second cl_updaterate "128" //Number of packets per second you are requesting from the server cl_interp_ratio "1" //Sets the interpolation amount (final amount is cl_interp_ratio / cl_updaterate) cl_interp "0" //Sets the interpolation amount, always set this to 0 cl_lagcompensation "1" //Lag compensation helps by eliminating combat latency from client side view cl_predict "1" //Skip waiting for server feedback and simulate client side movement in real-time cl_predictweapons "1" //Skip waiting for server feedback and perform client side prediction of weapon effects // Video - Brightness & Disabling TV Mode mat_monitorgamma "1.6" //Sets the Brightness to it's highest value, highly recommended mat_monitorgamma_tv_enabled "0" //Turn off TV Mode for less off-set light // Sound - Sound settings, doesn't affect volume in-game, adjust that yourself. voice_scale "0.4" //Turns down the volume of other players voice to 40% snd_musicvolume "0" //Turns off all music, easier to focus snd_use_hrtf 1 //Turn ON Head-Related Transfer Function // Net - How much frames you have and solid graph fps_max "300" //Map loads fast and allows high frames net_graph "1" //Shows my network usage data net_graphheight "0" //Changes height net_graphmsecs "400" //The latency graph represents this many milliseconds net_graphpos "2" //Positioning of Net Graph net_graphproportionalfont "0" //Makes font smaller net_graphshowinterp "1" //Shows interpolation value net_graphshowlatency "1" //Shows latency value net_graphsolid "1" //Solid Net Graph net_graphtext "1" //Shows text fields net_maxroutable "1200" //Requested max packet size before packets are 'split' net_scale "5" //Makes font smaller // Other r_drawtracers_firstperson "0" //Hides bullet tracers in first person view lobby_voice_chat_enabled "0" //Turns microphone off in lobby, really useful cl_use_opens_buy_menu "0" //Disables E from opening buy-menu, really useful mm_dedicated_search_maxping "50" //Maxping Search in Matchmaking cl_autowepswitch 0 //Don't auto-pick weapons func_break_max_pieces 0 //Less clutter from breaking vents (especially in Mirage) // Make sure mouse is using "Raw Input" & "No Acceleration" m_rawinput "1" //Enable Raw Input for perfect precision (Raw input is unavailable on OSX) m_mouseaccel2 "0" //Disables windows mouse acceleration initial threshold, safety precaution m_mouseaccel1 "0" //Disables windows mouse acceleration initial threshold, safety precaution m_customaccel "0" //Custom mouse acceleration disabled m_mousespeed "0"

Saturday, March 7, 2020

3 Hit Rammstein Songs Translated From German

3 Hit Rammstein Songs Translated From German Rammstein is a famous German band whose music is best described as dark, heavy rock. They are somewhat political and often take on social issues in their songs and that has led to controversy. Whatever your take on Rammsteins political views, the bands lyrics are also a lesson in German. If you are studying the language, you might find these lyrics and the English translations to three of their most popular songs helpful. An Introduction to Rammstein Rammstein was formed in 1993 by six men who grew up in East Germany  and were all born after the Berlin Wall went up. They took their name from the American Ramstein air base near Frankfurt (adding an extra m). The bands members are  Till Lindemann (b. 1964), Richard Z. Kruspe-Bernstein (b. 1967), Paul Lander (b. 1964), Oliver Riedel (b. 1971), Christoph Schneider (b. 1966), and Christian Flake Lorenz (b. 1966). Rammstein  is a unique German band in that it has managed to become popular in the English-speaking world by singing almost exclusively in German. Most other German artists or groups (think the Scorpions or Alphaville) have sung in English in order to reach the English-language market or they sing in German and remain virtually unknown in the Anglo-American world (think Herbert Grà ¶nemeyer). Yet, Rammstein has somehow turned their German lyrics into an advantage. It certainly can become an advantage for learning German. Rammenstein Albums Herzeleid  (1995)Sehnsucht  (1997)Live aus Berlin  (1998, also a  DVD)Mutter  (2001)Lichtspielhaus  (2003, DVD)Reise, Reise  (2004) The Controversy That Surrounds Rammstein Rammstein has also stirred up controversy on their road to fame.  One of the most famous incidents occurred in 1998. It involved their use of clips from the work of the Nazi  filmmaker  Leni Riefenstahl  in one of their music videos. The song, Stripped, was a cover of a  Depeche Mode song and the films used spurred protests against what some saw as a glorification of Nazism. Even before that well-publicized incident, their lyrics and images had given rise to the criticism that the band has neo-Nazi or far-right tendencies. With German lyrics that are often far from politically correct, their music was even linked to the Columbine, Colorado school shooting in 1999. Some British and American radio stations have refused to play Rammstein songs (even if they dont understand the German lyrics). There is no real evidence that any of Rammsteins six eastern German musicians themselves hold such right-wing beliefs. Yet, some people are either a little naive or in denial when they claim that Rammstein has done nothing to lead people to suspect the band of fascist leanings. The band itself has been a bit coy in their claims of why would anyone accuse us of such things? In light of some of their lyrics, they really should not pretend to be so innocent. The band members themselves have admitted they intentionally make their lyrics ambiguous and full of double entendre (Zweideutigkeit). However... we refuse to join those who totally reject artists for their supposed or actual political views. There are people who wont listen to Richard Wagner  operas because he was antisemitic (which he was). For me, the talent evident in Wagners music  rises above other considerations. Just because we condemn his antisemitism doesnt mean we cant appreciate his music. The same goes for Leni Riefenstahl. Her former Nazi connections are undeniable, but so is her cinematic and photographic talent. If we choose or reject music, cinema, or any art form only for political reasons, then we are missing the point of art. But if youre going to listen to Rammsteins lyrics and their meaning, dont be naive about it. Yes, you can learn German through their lyrics, simply be aware that those lyrics may have offensive overtones of a political, religious, sexual,  or social nature that people have a right to object to. Keep in mind that not everyone is comfortable with lyrics about sadistic sex or the use of the f-word - even if its in German. If Rammsteins lyrics make people think about issues from fascism to misogyny, then thats for the good. If listeners also learn some German in the process, so much the better. Amerika Lyrics Album: â€Å"Reise, Reise† (2004) Amerika is a perfect example of Rammsteins controversial style and it is also one of their best-known songs worldwide. The lyrics include both  German and English and it includes countless references about how America reigns over world culture and politics- for good or bad. As you can tell by the last verse (recorded in English, so no translation is needed), this song was not written with the intent of idolizing America. The music video is filled with clips of American influence throughout the world and the overall feel of the song is rather dark. German Lyrics Direct Translation by Hyde Flippo Refrain:*Were all living in America,America is wunderbar.Were all living in America,Amerika, Amerika.Were all living in America,Coca-Cola, Wonderbra,Were all living in America,Amerika, Amerika. Refrain:Were all living in America,America is wonderful.Were all living in America,America, America.Were all living in America,Coca-Cola, Wonderbra,Were all living in America,America, America. Wenn getanzt wird, will ich fhren,auch wenn ihr euch alleine dreht,lasst euch ein wenig kontrollieren,Ich zeige euch wies richtig geht.Wir bilden einen lieben Reigen,die Freiheit spielt auf allen Geigen,Musik kommt aus dem Weien Haus,Und vor Paris steht Mickey Maus. When Im dancing, I want to lead,even if you all are spinning alone,lets exercise a little control.Ill show you how its done right.We form a nice round (circle),freedom is playing on all the fiddles,music is coming out of the White House,and near Paris stands Mickey Mouse. Ich kenne Schritte, die sehr ntzen,und werde euch vor Fehltritt schtzen,und wer nicht tanzen will am Schluss,wei noch nicht, dass er tanzen muss!Wir bilden einen lieben Reigen,ich werde Euch die Richtung zeigen,nach Afrika kommt Santa Claus,und vor Paris steht Mickey Maus. I know steps that are very useful,and Ill protect you from missteps,and anyone who doesnt want to dance in the end,just doesnt know that he has to dance!We form a nice round (circle),Ill show you the right direction,to Africa goes Santa Claus,and near Paris stands Mickey Mouse. This is not a love song,this is not a love song.I dont sing my mother tongue,No, this is not a love song. * This refrain is used throughout the song, at times it is only the first four lines. In the last refrain, the sixth line is replaced with Coca-Cola, sometimes WAR,. Spieluhr (Music Box) Lyrics Album: Mutter (2001) The Hoppe hoppe Reiter phrase, repeated often in Spieluhr comes from a popular German nursery rhyme. The song tells the dark story about a child who pretends to be dead and is buried with a music box. It is the music box song that alerts people of the childs presence. German Lyrics Direct Translation by Hyde Flippo Ein kleiner Mensch stirbt nur zum Scheinwollte ganz alleine seindas kleine Herz stand still fr Stundenso hat man es fr tot befundenes wird verscharrt in nassem Sandmit einer Spieluhr in der Hand A small person just pretends to die(it) wanted to be completely alonethe small heart stood still for hoursso they declared it deadit is buried in wet sandwith a music box in its hand Der erste Schnee das Grab bedeckthat ganz sanft das Kind gewecktin einer kalten Winternachtist das kleine Herz erwacht The first snow that covered the gravewoke the child very gentlyin a cold winter nightthe small heart is awakened Als der Frost ins Kind geflogenhat es die Spieluhr aufgezogeneine Melodie im Windund aus der Erde singt das Kind As the frost flew into the childit wound up the music boxa melody in the windand the child sings from the ground Refrain:*Hoppe hoppe Reiterund kein Engel steigt herabmein Herz schlgt nicht mehr weiternur der Regen weint am Grabhoppe hoppe Reitereine Melodie im Windmein Herz schlgt nicht mehr weiterund aus der Erde singt das Kind Refrain:*Bumpety bump, riderand no angel climbs downmy heart does not beat any longeronly the rain cries at the graveBumpety bump, ridera melody in the windmy heart does not beat any longerand the child sings from the ground Der kalte Mond in voller Prachthrt die Schreie in der Nachtund kein Engel steigt herabnur der Regen weint am Grab The cold moon, in full magnificencehears the cries in the nightand no angel climbs downonly the rain cries at the grave Zwischen harten Eichendielenwird es mit der Spieluhr spieleneine Melodie im Windund aus der Erde singt das Kind Between hard oak boardsit will play with the music boxa melody in the windand the child sings from the ground Hoppe hoppe Reitermein Herz schlgt nicht mehr weiterAm Totensonntag hrten sieaus Gottes Acker diese Melodieda haben sie es ausgebettetdas kleine Herz im Kind gerettet Bumpety bump, ridermy heart does not beat any longerOn Totensonntag** they heard thismelody from Gods field [i.e., a cemetery]then they unearthed itthey saved the small heart in the child * The refrain is repeated after the next two verses and again at the end of the song. *  *Totensonntag  (Dead Sunday) is a Sunday in November when German Protestants remember the dead. Du Hast (You Have) Lyrics Album: Senhsucht (1997) This Rammstein song plays on the similarities of the conjugated forms of the verbs  haben  (to have) and  hassen  (to hate). It is a good study for anyone learning the German  language. German Lyrics Direct Translation by Hyde Flippo Dudu hast (hat)*du hast mich(4 x)du hast mich gefragtdu hast mich gefragtdu hast mich gefragt,und ich hab nichts gesagt Youyou have (hate)you have (hate) me*(4 x)you have asked meyou have asked meyou have asked meand I have said nothing Repeats twice:Willst du bis der Tod euch scheidettreu ihr sein fr alle TageNein, nein Repeats twice:Do you want, until death do you part,to be faithful to her for all your daysNo, no Willst du bis zum Tod der Scheide,sie lieben auch in schlechten TagenNein, nein Do you want until the death of the vagina,to love her, even in bad timesNo, no * This is a play on two German verbs:  du hast  (you have) and  du haßt  (you hate), spelled differently but pronounced the same way. The German  lyrics are provided for educational use only. No infringement of copyright is implied or intended. The literal, prose translations of the  original German  lyrics by Hyde Flippo.

Thursday, February 20, 2020

Faith, Reason and the University Memories and Reflections Essay

Faith, Reason and the University Memories and Reflections - Essay Example Christians are called upon to embrace the need of celebrating the achievements which have been brought through modernity by securing such achievements in grounding them to become more coherent and comprehensive through the understanding of human rationality. The lecture is not only brilliant and breathtaking but also very intelligible to some of the ordinary minds. This all not only addresses the heart of modernism but also to the Islamic societies and communities. Not acting in accordance with reason is deemed contrary to the nature of God and this is central to the Christianity as emphasized by Benedict XVI. God’s transcendence is not precluded by the openness of some of the divine concepts to examination by form of reason as illustrated by the early Christian rapprochement between the Greek inquiry and biblical faith. The expedition for reason over against myth is in existence as a dynamic in the two traditions as well as being accompanied by the various forms of enlightenment in each. During the late middle ages, the church brought about and reaffirmed the real analogy which existed between man and God. This was contrary to some of the arguments that it is only reason which can be taken as a reliable way of knowing God’s will, albeit that the Unlikeness of God is infinitely greater than his likeness. The de-hellenization of Christianity is continually highlighted by Benedict all through the modern age by the use of a long process using three stages. The first stage occurs in the reformation with the emphasis on sola scriptura which is followed by the liberal theology which occurs in the 19th century having its basis on the modern self-limitation of reason as Kant expresses and radicalized by the influence and impact of natural sciences. Benedict delves into the irony that even though the sciences explain the rational structure of matter, this total dependence on the prestige brought about by the scientific

Tuesday, February 4, 2020

Editorial Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 2

Editorial - Essay Example Certain situations like the case of Diane Pretty of Luton reflect that life may at times be in such a condition that death would seem to be a solution to their pains. Diane whose body had become paralyzed from the neck had to be fed through a pipe. The pain and sufferings of the woman made her wish that she died peacefully and with dignity before the disease killed her (Right-to-die case dismissed). Although courts did not allow her to take the step, but situations like these support the act of euthanasia where an individual may require the need to get ultimate relief. Several arguments point in support of the practice. A change in the outlook has been observed that reflects that doctors and professionals in countries like the United States are becoming supportive of the act if it is made legal (Otlowski, 326-327). Several organizations in Washington also support the act including National Association of Social Work, the American Civil Liberties Union of Washington, and many others (Cundiff, 84). The support mainly arises from the fact that an individual who would never recover may choose to die since the process would relieve the person from his pains. Others viewers believe that euthanasia should be a punishable offence. Since it is a completely private preference, no one from outside should perform such an act on another individual (Somerville, 77). The practice of euthanasia has also been opposed on ethical grounds as well that can be reflected through theories like Divine Command Theory and Kant’s Moral Theory. The Divine Command Theory opposes all sorts of activities related to euthanasia supporting normal death of an individual. Kant’s Moral Theory focuses on the main objectives of undertaking euthanasia and determines the consequences before deciding on supporting or not supporting the act (Stewart, 81-89). The main reason for majority of people not supporting the act of euthanasia is because they believe that â€Å"life is the most

Monday, January 27, 2020

Mission of the organization defines the expected position and the fundamental purpose

Mission of the organization defines the expected position and the fundamental purpose Introduction The vision and mission of the organization defines the expected position and the fundamental purpose of the organization. The purpose of this assignment is to understand the vision and mission of the case company and to identify and understand the strategic aims and objectives of an organization and investigate its progress towards the fulfillment of those aims and objectives. For this different alternative strategies available to the organization are also considered. To fulfill the requirement of this assignment the organization selected for investigation is McDonalds. McDonalds is the leading fast food restaurant chain of the world and is serving more than 58 million customers on daily basis. McDonalds Vision and Mission Statement Every organization must have a vision and a mission. Vision and mission statements are the short phrases which sets the whole direction of the organization. Vision statement provides the whole picture of the organizations desired future position in a single phrase. This statement then sets a whole direction of all the strategic aims and objectives of the organization. Below is the vision statement of the case company i.e. McDonalds: To be the worlds best quick service restaurant experience, being the best means providing outstanding quality, service, cleanliness, and value, so that we make every customer in every restaurant smile Mission statement clarifies the fundamental purpose of the organization. Off course the purpose is to achieve the vision of the organization, but mission statement goes in further detail and answers the question of the existence of the organization. Mission statement of McDonalds is: To be the best employer To deliver operational excellence Achieving durable profits Expanding the brand name and extending the strength of McDonalds system through innovation and technology. Analyzing the vision and mission statement of the case company it is clear that organizations focus is mainly towards the external and internal customers i.e. consumers and employees. Furthermore, the company is committed to innovate and use the latest technology to earn huge profits. McDonalds Strategic Aims and Objectives An aim is a broader statement which tells what an organization wants to become and the objectives are the specific targets or tasks which leads towards the fulfillment of the aim of the organization. It is very important for an organization to set such aims which are practically possible and which can be measured. If this is not the case the organization will put its efforts and resources in that direction which is not possible at all. For effective working and success for an organization the aims and objectives must be realistic and it must also be associated with some time frame as if it is not the case then there will be confusion within the organization regarding the time to complete the tasks and projects (Fred David, 2006). Furthermore, the aims should be measureable, as the progress towards the fulfillment of objectives should be easily measured as if this is not the case then it would be very difficult for an organization to know that whether the desired results are achieved or not. McDonalds key to success all over the world is their priorities, which are also mentioned on their corporate website. The top priority of the leading fast food restaurant chain is the customers. As per the McDonalds corporate values the reason of the existence of the business are their customers and they work only to fulfill the needs and demands of the customers. As per the company it is not the matter of sales rather it is the matter of providing quality products along with the best services to the customers in affordable prices. The second priority is their employees or workforce. The company believes that the employees make the dream of the organization come true. The employees are their valuable assets and it is just because of the skills and competencies of their employees which enables the organization to achieve the set goals and targets. The company also believes the quality of their business model. According to the corporate values of the company the business model is set to meet the dynamic customer behavioral changes. The strategic aims and objectives of McDonalds and mentioned below and these shows that what are the top priorities of the company and it gives a hint why the company is so successful all across the globe: To maintain the leadership in fast food restaurant industry To serve the customer with good food in a friendly and fun environment Providing the quality food and value of money to the customer Providing the shareholder a positive return on their investments To meet the social and ethical responsibility Strategic Plan and its Component parts Strategic plan of any enterprise is a picture of the desired position of the organization. Strategic plan gives a root path that how the organization will achieve the desired place or position in the given industry (Maches, B. 2010). Three major components of strategic plan include formulation, implementation and evaluation of strategy carries that information and plan which provides a direction towards the organizational objectives (Kim Warren, 2008). Strategy Formulation Strategy formulation process starts with the situation analysis of the organization. Situation analysis is an important part of strategic plan as it gives an overview of the existing position of the organization. Situation analysis includes the analysis of internal and external environment of the organization. Different strategic tools can be used to evaluate this situation i.e. SWOT analysis, PEST Analysis etc. This also includes the evaluation of current mission and vision of the organization. Vision statement clarifies that what an organization want to become and on the other hand mission statements shows that what business the organization operates. Mission contains the products and services, its markets and its employee management policy. The assessment of external factors of the organization involves the listing down of finite list of factors which are a potential threat or opportunities for the organization in the external environment. By finite list is meant that not all the factors are focused. The priority is given to those factors which have high level of impact or form which high returns can be gained. The internal audit is also done in the situation analysis where the internal strengths and weaknesses of the organization are listed down (Fred David, 2006). After the clear understanding of the organizations current situation the real work begins where the strategies are formulated. The best practice is to involve the employees in this process as the employees from all levels will share their views and a better strategic decision will be expected. Here the strategies are developed to capitalize the opportunities available which were assessed in the external audit and minimize the threat of the factors. On the other side the strengths of the organizations require such strategies which further enhance them and the weaknesses are tried to be overcome. The next step in the strategy formulation stage is setting the long term objectives. Long term objectives are those which are associated with the sales and market share growth, it can be the growth of assets; it can be attaining any award from the government body etc. This is a very important phase as the long term goals and objectives show a direction to the whole organization. Long term objectives are set after a through consideration of external and internal strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats to the organization. The available resources and the expected resources are listed and based on those resources the long term but achievable, measureable and realistic objectives are set with proper timelines (Fred David, 2006). The final stage of strategy formulation process is the evaluation and selection of appropriate strategies to meet the long term objectives. In this the alternative strategies are also identified an evaluated and a contingency planning is also done. For instance in case of any external change which is beyond the change of organization such as change in legislations or change in market conditions then that contingency plan can be used. The existing strategies of the organization are the initial point for strategy evaluation. Strategy Implementation The next step in a strategic plan includes the strategy implementation. Developing an effective strategy does not ensures that the strategic plan will be successful. It was in the old times when the strategic planning was done only at the level of stagy formulation stage. Experiences of different organizations and further studies revealed that strategy formulation does not ensure the success of strategic plan. Implementation is another important part of the strategic plan. In the implementation phase the process of shifting the responsibilities to the middle and lower level of management is developed. As in the strategy formulation stage it was mentioned that to involve the employees of all the levels is important, so if any organization has done this during the strategy formulation them the strategy implementation process will be lot more easier. This is because the middle and lower level staff will have a clearer view of the strategies developed and they would be in a better positi on to implement those strategies in real practice (Kim Warren, 2008). Strategy Evaluation and Control After the implementation of strategic plan it is important like all other plans and project to evaluate the progress of that plan. Implementation phase end with the start of evaluation process. This is a continuous process until the strategic aims and objectives are not met (Fred David, 2006). There are many organizations such as McDonalds, who have strategic aims and objectives that shows continuity and a continuous process is required for that for instance one of the strategic objectives of the company is to provide the value to the customer. This is an objective which shows continuity as the fast food chain is aimed to provide the customer value to their money so for that strategy evaluation is required. This process ensures that the implemented strategies are progressing towards the achievement of organizational aims and objectives or not. In this process the required results or outcomes are compared with the actual results and if there is any kind of difference then with the cha nge in strategies of taking appropriate steps that difference is tried to be eliminated or at least minimized. Factors affecting McDonalds Strategic Plan Several internal and external factors can affect the strategic plan of McDonalds. These may include factors such as managements vision, financial factors, technological changes, legislative factors or market competition. As mentioned in the strategic plan earlier that the strategies are developed by considering the existing resources of the organization. It also includes the existing technology possessed by the company. If the existing system of McDonalds becomes obsolete with the introduction of newer version of the same system then the organization need to adapt that system to sustain in the market. In this case the strategic plan requires a change (Kim Warren, 2008). Same is the case with the market condition. If at the time of strategic planning the market conditions are evaluated and after implementation the market condition changes and requires a change then the strategic plan will also require a change. That is the reason it is suggested that McDonalds strategic plan should be flexible enough that can meet the changing market conditions. Furthermore the strategic plans are also depend on the vision of the management of the organization. If the management decides to go with a differentiation strategy because of the market need then the existing strategic plan will be changed. Financial aspects cannot be neglected in the strategic planning. Every strategy requires financial resources and if the financial resources are not sufficient enough to meet the new strategy then it will require a change in the strategic plan. However, these constraints can be minimized during the strategy formulation process by intensive research and evaluation of the internal and external factors, but still the dynamic market conditions and growing consumer needs cannot be predicted. McDonalds and Strategic Options If there is some change in the external environment of the company then in response to that the company opts strategic option. Moreover, strategic option is also chosen by an organization to grow and it tells that how the company wants to grow and what are the ways through which the completive advantage is taken by an organization over its competitors. By manipulating and taking advantage of the opportunities available for an organization the company can have a positive outcome. There are two renowned methods or ways which can be chosen by any organization to gain a competitive advantage over the other organization (Fred David, 2006). These two strategic options include the cost leadership strategy and differentiation strategy. Under cost leadership strategy the organization cut down its cost of production or cost of goods sold and hence increases their profit margins. As the business word today is highly competitive and inn the fast food restaurant industry the customers have so many options such as KFC, Pizza Hut etc. which are also providing high quality products. So in such scenario it is not possible for McDonalds to increase the prices of their products. So, cutting the cost of production and other operational cost will be the best strategy to increase their profit margins. The internal capabilities of McDonalds will require a focus and needs to be enhanced in order to achieve the goals of this strategic option. Another strategic option available for McDonalds is to offer such products and services which are unique in nature and are not available in the market. In this way the customer will have no other option to get the desired product or service. This will keep the customer intact with McDonalds and hence the profit margins of the organization will keep on growing. A best example of this is the ice cream provided by McDonalds. No other fast food chain provides the best quality ice cream and people are fond of McDonalds Ice Cream and this has been a unique product of the fast food chain which attracts millions of customers. Another unique feature of McDonalds is their quality customer services. In this era the customer service has gained utmost importance and McDonalds customer services is helping them to increase their market share. Even if the restaurant is packed with the customers the customer services quality remains the same which makes the fast food chain number one in the world. Strategic Option a Helping Hand to achieve Strategic Objectives Strategic options help the organization to achieve the organization strategic aims and objectives. However, a combination of the available strategic options is a good option for any enterprise as this can have a dual positive effect in the organizational performance and profit margins can also be increased with a wide margin. Using integrated strategic options allows the firm a more leverage to take decision on marketing mix. McDonalds can use either of the strategic option discussed earlier, but the more appropriate is to use the mix of both the strategic options. This will help to achieve the strategic objectives of the organization which were mentioned earlier in the document. Using a differentiation strategy, McDonalds will be able to charge the premium prices against the product features. However, keeping the legislation under consideration is also important before charging the premium prices from the customers (Kim Warren, 2008). On the other side of the picture the cost leader ship strategy will provide the company a more leverage to reduce their prices of provide discount offers to the customers as the company have more margin due to the increase in profit margin. McDonalds can offer different discount deals on their core products as these are also provided by their major global competitor KFC. So, if the fast food chain is following an integrated strategic option then it can attain competitive advantage on either side of the court. This will fulfill the first and important strategic objective of McDonalds i.e. to maintain the market leader position. As the fast food chain will be able to counter each offer given by its competitor and also can attack the competitor by offering new products and deals and maintain the market dominance. Furthermore, using the differentiation strategy the fast food chain can make their customer services so supreme that no other competitor can copy that. Along with the food quality which is already very unique can be improved further and new products can be launched which are not available in the market and not ever provided by any other organization. By suing this differentiation strategy the company will be able to achieve its another strategic objective i.e. to provide the customer with quality food and service. Cost leadership and differentiation strategies will improve the profit margins and the strategic objective to provide a positive return on investment of the shareholders and investors will be fulfilled. Concluding this discussion it is suggested to the McDonalds management to continue delivering the quality product and services and further reduce their operational cost without compromising the quality of their products and standard of their services. McDonalds Stakeholders Analysis Stakeholders are those bodies or parties which have direct or indirect interaction with the organization. These bodies are affected with the operations of the business positively or negatively. The major stakeholder for McDonalds includes their customers, shareholders and their employees. Customers Customers of McDonalds are the major focus of fast food chain. Mentioned earlier in the document that the companys corporate values indicate that customer is the king. The strategic objectives are also aimed towards the customer satisfaction by delivering value to them. Customer services is the important part of the McDonalds strategic planning as through quality customer services they are able to retain he customers. McDonalds branches and franchises are all over the world and they are huge in number. This is to facilitate the customer to provide the quality food with easy access. Furthermore the free home delivery service of the fast food chain shows that the organization is committed to produce their products and services at the door step of the customers. Shareholders Shareholders are another major stakeholder of the company. Strategic objectives of the company show that the company is committed to deliver return on investments. The company has adapted cost leadership and differentiation strategy which have given them a position of market leader and helped to increase the profit margins which is the major concern of the investors. Employees The employees are the key to success for any organization. At McDonalds it is not a different story. The company considers their employees as an asset like all successful organizations and is committed to facilitate their employees who in actual are the prime resources that leads towards the fulfillment of organizations strategic objectives. Five Competitive Forces Analysis of McDonalds Michael porter provided a frame work which contains the analysis of five different forces effecting the organization (Kim Warren, 2002). Through this analytical tool five different forces affecting McDonalds are evaluated. Figure 1 Porter Five Forces Model Threat of new entrants Fast food industry has gained a tremendous growth in the 21st century. Many fast food chains are operating in different countries. The major are KFC, Pizza Hut and Subway. However there are many local fast food chains that provide the same kind of products which these international fast food chains do. However, the quality and standard is not up to the level of these chains still these chains are able to grasp a handsome amount of market share. The entry in this business is not a difficult task; however, to launch a chain at the level of McDonald is quite difficult. Threat of Substitutes There are several substitutes available against the products of McDonalds, which are also liked by the consumers. So McDonalds also have to consider those substitutes while designing their strategies. Degree of Rivalry The competition in the fast food restaurant industry is intense. Having the major brands like KFC, PIZZA HUT and Subway , McDonalds really have to be up to the mark in terms of products and customer services to maintain the market leader position. Bargaining Power of Buyers Bargaining power of buyers in case of McDonalds is high as the customer has so many options so the fast food chains have to maintain their prices very competitive and keep the level of customer services up to the mark. Bargaining Power of Suppliers Bargaining power of supplier is not high in case of McDonalds. Suppliers try to add their names in the list of the big brand names such as McDonalds because of the frequency of their orders. Pest Analsyis of Mcdonalds Pestle analysis is to analyze the external forces which can affect the organization. Below is the brief analysis of McDonalds Figure 2 PEST Analysis Framework Political Forces Due to the global operations of the company there are several policies in different states which can affect the McDonalds policies and procedures. Economic Factors The global economy can affect the organization in many ways. The change in the fast food industry business can also affect the McDonalds in a positive or negative way. Social Factors Being operating in many countries across the globe, McDonald have to recognize the social and cultural factors. For instance in Muslim countries the fast food chain has to assure the community regarding the use of Halal chicken. Technological Factors The rapid change in technology will force the company to adapt it in order to survive in the competitive market. Furthermore, the introduction of new advertisement Medias gives a more chance to aggressively market the products through different channels. Conclusion McDonalds enormous success all over the globe is the result of their effective vision and mission which is leading the organization in the right direction. The selection of right strategies at the right time allows the organization to achieve the organization set aims and objectives. The progress of the company towards strategic aims and objectives is satisfactory. The selection of integrated strategic options will allow the company to progress more efficiently towards the achievement of strategic aims and objectives.

Sunday, January 19, 2020

Reflection of the Role and Responsibilities of the Teacher Essay

Roles and Responsibilities of a teacher are vital and must be learnt, as a general rule, to ensure quality of teaching. To embark on this journey it is essential to attain enough knowledge about the subject and gather the correct material for teaching. It is not only sufficient to hold good quality knowledge on the subject, but also have a presentable appearance. The teacher is responsible for student behaviour and classroom management, as well as to understand the capability of the learners. Therefore it is essential for teachers to assess the students level of understanding. As all students learn in different ways, there is the Honey and Mumford theory ‘learning styles’ (Honey, P. & Mumford, A. 1992), to assist teachers. By carrying out group work it will provide a good chance to get students working together as it facilitates the need for productive talk, (Edwards & Mercer, 1987). Here the ‘sociological’ learning style can be applied. By implementing this on the students it allows them to learn from each other and share ideas with one another. The students can also participate in exploratory talk (Mercer & Hodgkinson 2008) which allows them to teach each other and take ownership of their own ideas. This is very encouraging as it allows the students to indulge deeply on the knowledge they hold, when explaining to other individuals. Also with the help of the internet and modern technology there are many ways to get the students interactively involved with lessons. To allow them to work on their own, will be a better way of learning as they will be learning on their own terms. Here one other learning style has been applied, which is the ‘tactile’ style, this is where the student learns best when they are given the opportunity by doing something by themselves. On the other hand there is the auditory learning style whereby a learner benefits from simply listening, so if the lectures are well planned and class discussions are carried out it will benefit this type of learner. If the above was applied to the students they would stay engaged and involved with the teacher, which is important for effective learning. Also possessing a great amount of creativity when teaching and trying new ways of explaining areas of the subject will bring great outcomes to the students’ level of learning. As Wilson (2008), states on similar terms that ‘the oles are functions of a teacher, which are, planning and preparing for the class, developing interesting way to deliver the lesson, assessing the impact of learning and ensuring safe learning’. Therefore ensuring suitable accommodation facilities, which are available, in order to provide the desired learning setting. If the roles and responsibilities of a teacher are in good practice the tea cher will be in a position where she/he can be approached with comfort and ease by the student, not only to discuss about the subject but anything they wish to discuss. Again this brings great benefit allowing the teacher to understand the learner and to provide the correct resources. Moreover the safeguarding of children is taken very seriously and usually new teachers are supplied with key documents, which are required to be read and understood and complied with, for example if a teacher knows a child is being abused the teacher will have to know how to deal with the situation using the advice given and who to report it to. One other important part of being a teacher is knowing how well he/she is teaching, this can be achieved by assessing the students, and from these assessments changes for improvement can take place. When assessing through assignments or exams, it is highly important teachers provide positive feedback as it will always encourage the student to learn more. On concluding this, teaching should be delivered to the learner in a way that is informative, creative, interactive and responsive within a relaxed environment, to enable high learning performance from the learners. The teachers holds many roles and responsibilities, however, most importantly there are in search of constant ways of finding better ways of students to learn, by using different unique methods to allow the learner to achieve their best outcome, which will then make them accessible for contributing positively in society, or going onto higher education, and providing a better lifestyle for one self.

Saturday, January 11, 2020

Community Policing vs. Traditional Policing Essay

Policing in the United States has taken on many different forms and facets in the past 50 years. Although, various modes & models of policing styles continue to be introduced, two main aspects of law enforcement have remained constant, (traditional policing & community oriented- policing). There are so many different facets, trends, and new emerging technologies in the wide world of law enforcement. First, we will outline a brief history of the origins and evolvement of policing. Special attention will be lent to illustrate the effectiveness of the paramilitary style of dress, loyalty, and discipline in relation to the traditional style of policing in America; casting particular illumination on the organizational structure of the traditional police department. In addition, the solid, familial bond of brotherhood and sisterhood that exists within the casing of the traditional style of policing will also be presented and explained. Community oriented policing is the second side of policing that we are going to deal with; focusing on its American roots, effectiveness, and future direction of community-oriented policing. A brief biographical sketch will be painted of the person who many law enforcement researchers and analysts have credited with the implementation of the community-oriented model of policing. His basis, reasoning, and a cross-section of his 9 Policing Principles will also be discussed. The public reaction and relationship to-wards the community-oriented model of policing will also be brought to light. The many triumphs, pitfalls, differences, similarities, and core effectiveness of both models of policing will be contrasted and compared. The subject of what method or rule is best to use in the protection of the citizens who live, work, and raise families in the United States will more than likely remain a hot-button issue for many years to come. Depending upon the current governmental administration that is occupying our nations’ highest office, partisan politics play a vital role in how law enforcement precincts across America are funded, staffed, and managed. The prevailing morality views and sentiments of the community-at-large, and what they feel is most important to them, in terms of the main focus of law enforcement in their town, must definitely must be taken into account; when law enforcement agencies are outlining a departmental plan of action. More community action groups, government watchdog organizations, youthful offender programs,  positive, after school athletic activities, youthful offender programs, peer mentor-ship programs, faith-based, community initiative alliances, and law enforcement partnering with the community that it serves, (not just with City Hall and its partisan policies), are sorely needed in cities nationwide. When the law enforcement brotherhood is able to gain a crystal clear understanding of what type of services are needed in the various communities that each individual department serves, then and only then will the proverbial bridges begin to be built. Then healing and reconciliation can finally start between law enforcement and concerned citizens. All of these factors are core essential; to ensure that cities across America are able to grow and maintain a peaceful existence. Surprising to many, who may think that modern-day policing has its roots in the United States, the original formation and concept for the Metropolitan Police department was started in London, England. Sir Robert Peel, (also known affectionately as, â€Å"orange peel†), is credited with creating the first organized police force in 1829; while serving as Home Secretary of England. According to Peel, the true core concept of policing is, â€Å"the police are the people and the people are the police†. Sir Robert Peel established nine separate bedrock principles for policing that continue to stand as a road map for law enforcement agencies across America. The first principle Peel outlined in his plan was that, â€Å"the basic mission for which the police exist is to prevent crime and disorder†. This could arguably be one of his most important principles. Peel established a force of officers, also known as, â€Å"Bobbies†, and, â€Å"Peelers†, as they wer e known, in London. The new Bobbies were given beats, (particular area a Bobbie would be responsible for). While walking the beat, the Bobbies would interact closely with shop owners, and ordinary citizens. The close proximity of law enforcement in the community established not only an authoritative presence in the community, but also a sense of security for citizens. Bobbies wore dark, professional uniforms that further established their authoritative presence, (the uniforms from the 1800’s are still quite similar to the ones worn by the New York City Police Department). According to an article concerning the significance of uniforms, Richard R. Johnson, suggests from much research that:The uniform worn by also elicits stereotypes about that human beings status, authority,  attitudes, and motivations. The police uniform serves to identify a person as one vested with the powers of the state to arrest and use force. The uniform also serves to establish order and conformity within the ranks of those who wear it by suppressing individuality. The psychological impact of the police uniform should not be underestimated, Johnson, (2005). This very professional, paramilitary style of uniform worn by most American law enforcement officers is a perfect visual representation of the image that a traditional police officer should portray; one of power, professionalism, and trust. Building off of the professional concept of serving the public interest through uniform, clear-cut channels, we will explore the traditional police concept. The traditional method of policing, if practiced correctly and efficiently, is an extremely effective mode of operation for any successful police unit. The professional, paramilitary style of dress places the law enforcement officer in the frame of mind that he is a polished professional; and must live up to the image that his uniform represents, on or off the job. The traditional concept of policing also focuses on police administration, (also known as brass), to make most, if not all administrative decisions for all officers in a department or unit. This type of set-up relies almost totally upon loyalty,duty, and the honor code that exists among law enforcement officers; to ensure compliance with the way that daily official law enforcement business is handled from department to department. Depending on the particular department, law enforcement officers may adhere to an extremely strict code of fraternal brotherhood and sisterhood. This very same bond is usually only found in the armed services; this is the reason why many soldiers are honorably discharged or retire from the armed services to pursue fruitful careers in law enforcement. It means a great deal to a law enforcement officer to know beyond the shadow of a doubt that he or she can definitely depend on their fellow officer no matter what. Contrastingly, the community-oriented side of policing relies very heavily on placing much of the administrative and social duties that were once reserved for upper-level management in the laps of street level law enforcement  officers. One of the earliest accounts of active community policing in the U.S. was in 1962 by the San Francisco Police Department; who established a specialized unit of law enforcement officers based on the core concept that, â€Å"police would help to reduce crime by reducing despair—- by acting as a social service agency to ameliorate some of the difficulties encountered by minority group persons†, Patterson, J. (n.d.). With the creation of this unit, as officers assigned to this unique unit began to draw closer to the people in the surrounding community, the citizens’ new found relationship with members of this new, community-based police unit prompted some of them to muster enough courage to file formal complaints against regular pat rol officers. While on the one hand, the close relationship with the community was a good thing, the tension that now existed between the community-based unit officers and the regular patrol officers was one of major distrust and constant scandal. The community-based officer program was started to create a balance in community/police relations, but instead, stirred up a huge political mess in the San Francisco Police Department. In any event, the program was discontinued due to the dis-harmony that now existed between these separate sides of the police force. Many times solving one problem only creates a much larger dilemma. Community-policing had seen a major upswing in the 80’s and 90’s; but, departments across America are beginning to realize that the traditional-style of policing is one that commands the most overall respect from citizens. In closing, as law enforcement technology continues to increase at an almost feverish pace, the styles of law enforcement, (although slowly evolving), will basically remain the same. It would probably be safe to say that many police departments across the nation do not rely totally on community-oriented policing or traditional-policing; each department more than likely has a unique mixture of both of these policing concepts. Whether a particular leans toward the community concept or the traditional concept depends on the individual communities that each department serves. When law enforcement officials take time to conduct research on the various communities that they serve, then our cities can begin the process of placing their trust back in the hands of the police departments that patrol our multi-cultural communities every day. Bibliography 1)The Official Website of the City of Clearwater, FL., The Community and its History of Community-Policing., (2006). Retrieved from http://www.clearwaterpolice.org/cp/cp_history.asp2)Leineweber, G. V., (200-2005), Leine’s 10-42 Hideaway., History of Policing, Retrieved from http://www.leineshideaway.com/PoliceHistory.html3)History.com., Police., (n.d.)., Retrieved from http://www.history.com/encyclopedia.do?articleId=2195224)The Official Site of the Prime Minister’s Office., History and Tour, Sir Robert Peel., (n.d.), Retrieved from http://www.number10.gov.uk/history-and-tour/prime-ministers-in-history/sir-robert-peel5)U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services. , What is Community-Policing? (2008, April 30). Retrieved from http://www.cops.usdoj.gov/default.asp?Item=366)Associated Content, Law Enforcement: Sir Robert Peel’s Concept of Community Policing in Today’s Society. (2007, Nov 8). Retrieved from http://www.associatedc ontent.com/article/435980/law_enforcement_sir_robert_peels_concept.html7)LondonBobbies.com, Home Page. (2004, July 19). Retrieved from http://www.aowo42.dsl.pipex.com/8)Johnson, M.S., R.R., Police Uniform Articles, The pspsychological influence of the police uniform. (2005, March 4).,retrieved from http://www.policeone.com/police-products/apparel/uniforms/articles/99417/9)Patterson, Sgt. J., ‘Lectric Law Library, Community Policing: Learning the Lessons of History., (n.d.)., Retrieved from http://www.lectlaw.com/files/cjs07.htm