Cats Cradle :: essays research papers

Synopsis: 'Cat's Cradle' by Kurt Vonnegut 1963 Abstract. This novel, filled with a variety of bizarre but all-too-human characters, focuses primarily on the ironic legacy of modern science, which, according to Vonnegut, promises mankind progress but only hastens the cataclysmic end of the world. As John, the narrator, researches the background for his book on the atomic bomb, he becomes fascinated by Dr. Felix Hoenikker. Hoenikker is the archetypal scientist, isolated from human contact, dedicated to his work, and completely without moral awareness. Like the child's game cat's cradle, which is meant to amuse but only terrifies his son, Hoenikker's scientific games are anything but harmless. Ironically the atomic bomb is not even Hoenikker's most devastating creation. Working on the rather innocuous problem of how to get soldiers out of the mud, he synthesizes "ice-nine," which is both better and worse than expected: It would freeze the water so soldiers stuck in the mud could lift themselves out, but this freezing action would continue until every bit of water on earth was turned into solid ice-nine. At his death Hoenikker's secret substance is entrusted to his children, who are predictably irresponsible and use the power of ice-nine only for their personal advantage. Vonnegut shows sympathy for Newton, Angela, and Frank Hoenikker, frail human beings who are simply incapable of the moral strength and wisdom demanded of them, but this makes the satire even more powerful: Mankind continually refuses to acknowledge what may be called its terminal stupidity and therefore perpetually threatens its own existence. There are a few positive forces in the novel, but each is undermined. Love, for example, is presented as a worthy but impossible, even comical ideal, symbolized by Mona Monzano and her insatiable habit of making love only by rubbing bare feet with another.

Transworld Auto Parts

Christine Lam BA 453 – Case Briefing: Transworld Auto Parts November 11, 2012 Company Overview: Transworld Auto Parts (TAP) is a Tier 1 manufacturer of original and after-market parts for automobile producers both in the United States and abroad. TAP focuses on manufacturing in two core product lines: electronics and interiors. Apart from that, it also separates its customer-centered divisions into four divisions: luxury, economy, mid-priced, and truck. TAP also serves in three main geographic markets including North America, Europe, and Asia.Problem Definition: Which of the two balanced scorecard approaches better illustrates how Transworld Auto Parts can improve their ROCE by 8% given the current economic downturn? Situational Analysis: Transworld Auto Parts belongs in the automobile manufacturing industry. This industry is very susceptible to industry trends and changes because much of the industry’s sales depends on the external environment which affects both consum er and supplier behavior. During 2008 when the economy experienced a global recession, many auto makers such as Chrysler and General Motors were on the brink of insolvency due to the decline in car sales.Utilizing the PESTEL framework to better understand the macro-environment, the recession reflects economic factors in the external environment which can influence the industry. The recession affected consumers in the sense that they possessed less disposable income, causing them to be less inclined to purchase new cars during this time. However, other aspects of the external environment can benefit firms within this industry. For example, with the rising automobile production in Asia, many suppliers can consider global expansion and developing sales in international markets.Many car manufacturers in Asia possess low labor costs and a great demand in local markets, so suppliers within the industry have this opportunity to expand. Not only is it important to consider the industry and external environment in which TAP operates in, it is also important to analyze its internal resources and capabilities in order to better understand the company. TAP currently has operations in four different customer-centered divisions: luxury, economy, mid-priced, and truck. However, TAP decided to only focus on improving their luxury and economy division because these two divisions will allow TAP to compete ggressively and make the most profit, according to their research. Each of the separate divisions is managed by a separate manager and supporting staff. This allows Ellen Bright, CEO of TAP to distinguish results from each division and form her own board of directors to make strategic decisions. TAP flourishes with this hierarchical structure because it allows the company to micromanage each separate division’s profitability for the company and for it to implement any changes when necessary.Strategy: After Bright decided to cut the other two divisions, each manager from the luxury and economy division respectively were assigned to create a balanced score card to describe their objectives on how to improve their division and what must be done to achieve their parent company’s target goal of an 8% return on capital employed (ROCE). Eckhardt, president of the luxury division presented a balanced score card that was simple yet with focused objectives for each aspect of the balanced score card.For example, the financial perspective contained 4 main goals: increase ROCE, increase cash flow, increase revenue, and increase gross margin. The customer perspective simply included: improve customer satisfaction, manage innovation, and initiation customer R&D partnerships. Similarly, the process perspective included two main goals: reduce raw materials cost and maintain quality leadership. Lastly, the learning and growth perspective only included one objective: increase employee engagement. On the other hand, Kwon, president of the economy division took a more complex and descriptive approach with the balanced score card.He went into detail about each of the four perspectives and proposed very specific, action-oriented goals. He had similar financial perspective objectives, but each of the other perspectives contained about four or five different objectives. For example, the learning and growth perspective contained six objectives: train buyers on low cost procurement, enhance electronic interchanges with customers and suppliers, transform workforce into JIT/lean experts, make JIT/lean a priority for all workers, alight IT to support TQM and JIT, and enhance workforce capabilities in TQM.Both approaches of the balanced score card aim to attain similar overall goals. Below are some pros and cons for each approach: Luxury Division- Pros: focusing goals in broad chunks make it easier to attain, with attainable goals employees are happier, creating healthier company morale Cons: too simple without specifically stating what actions mus t be taken in order to meet objectives, might cause confusion among employees Economy Division- Pros: very detailed with specific measures and actions on how to achieve objectives Cons: may seem to expect too much from employees, which makes goal appear to be and discourage employeesAction Plan: After analyzing both approaches to the balanced score card, the economy division presented a more well thought out and action specific plan to reach the company’s target goal. The most important factors to consider when analyzing balanced score cards are: * Does it describe and link? * Does it provide incentives and balances? * Does it predict and plan? Kwon did a great job describing each objective and linking it to other perspectives of the BSC. This in turn created specific goals which are measurable.The objectives he proposed included both financial and non financial goals creating an overall balance. Lastly, his balanced score card plans for not only short term objectives but als o long term objectives which helps plan for the company’s future success. In conclusion, Kwon had a better approach to the balanced score card and Bright should promote Kwon to the COO position. Appendix A Revised Balanced Score Card for Luxury Division | Objectives| Measures| Financial Perspective| Increased ROCE| ROCE| Increase Cash Flow| Year-to-date cash flow from operating activities| Increase Revenue| Year-to-date revenue|Increase Gross Margin| Gross Margin %| Customer Perspective| Improve customer satisfaction| global market share| Be low-cost provider of quality| % of components with prices lower than competitors| Manage innovation of products | number of new products introduced, customer surveys | Create customer R&D partnerships| number of customers with whom TAP partners with | Be highest quality provider| customer surveys | Process Perspective| Reduce raw materials cost| cost of raw materials with respect to % of revenue| Eliminating defect rates| track number of defects|Improve supplier base| number of suppliers, ratings of each supplier| Better inventory/demand forecasting| % reduction in inventory carrying costs | Improve manufacturing efficiency| reduction in unscheduled downtime, % reduction in labor hours per part | Learning and Growth Perspective | Increase training of employees| number of certified employees| Increase employee engagement| satisfaction surveys| Aligning IT support | % increase in IT spending| Managing tools employee uses| employee survey |

Different Culture in Guest of the Sheik by Elizabeth...

There are many countries in the world and every country is unique and individualistic with many exclusive qualities. Everyone in the world has a culture but it is not easy to accept or agree with other people’s culture. The ethnography, â€Å"Guests of the Sheik†, written by Elizabeth Warnock Fernea really captures what it is like to live and to be immersed into another culture. Ethnography is â€Å"comprised of the writings of the anthropologist, detailing the life ways of a particular culture, investigated by means of direct fieldwork† (Arenson, and Miller-Thayer 1). Elizabeth Fernea lived in a small village of El Nahra in southern Iraq for two years to gather data for her anthropologist husband Bob. In the beginning, she had limited knowledge of Iraq, its religion or culture, but as she started connecting with the women of the society, she came to learn both about this foreign country and about herself. Acculturation is â€Å"the process of acceptance result ing for the contact between two cultures, or an individual interacting in at least two cultures† (517). As she builds relationships with the woman’s, she is acculturated. As Elizabeth Fernea first arrived at Diwaniya station, she was the only woman without an abayah. She said, â€Å"I began to be self-conscious. This is ridiculous, I told myself. Why should I have to war that ugly thing-it’s not my custom; the arguments with Bob about the abayah returned in a rush† (Fernea 5). This shows that she could not accept wearing something thatShow MoreRelatedGuest of the Sheik by Elizabeth Warnok Fernea814 Words   |  3 PagesMiller-Thayer 520). Most of the cultures are used to seeing only female and male getting married but looking deeper into the society; we can see there are more to it. There are many different types of marriages. In an ethnography called, Guest of the Sheik, by Elizabeth Warnock Fernea, she talks about her experiences in a small rural villag e of El Nahra in southern Iraq. Ethnography is â€Å"comprised of the writings of the anthropologist, detailing the life ways of a particular culture, investigated by meansRead More Guests of the Sheik by Elizabeth Warnock Essay1010 Words   |  5 PagesGuests of the Sheik by Elizabeth Warnock Elizabeth Fernea entered El Nahra, Iraq as an innocent bystander. However, through her stay in the small Muslim village, she gained cultural insight to be passed on about not only El Nahra, but all foreign culture. As Fernea entered the village, she was viewed with a critical eye, ?It seemed to me that many times the women were talking about me, and not in a particularly friendly manner; (70). 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HoweverRead MoreGuests of the Sheik2095 Words   |  9 PagesGuests of the Sheik 10/27/10 Anthropology Ciara Schultz Out of all the many countries in the world, each one is unique and individualistic with many exclusive qualities to each one. Many times, the countries get compared to the Western civilization of the United States. The book Guests of the Sheik is just that, but more. An American woman, (Elizabeth Fernea) travels to a completely foreign land, not known at all to her and experiences the culture first hand. She is at first willing, sinceRead MoreThe Gypsies Case Study Answers1376 Words   |  6 Pageswho are boys are properly trained before entering adulthood. Although the women and men are separated for the majority of the day, they come together to eat and share stories. Even though the genders have different responsibilities, they all work together for survival and to preserve their culture. In the text, â€Å"Picturing the Past: Gender in National Geographic†, women in early history, prehistoric times, are viewed in a similar way to the Gypsie woman. In fact, both are often overlooked in comparison