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The Defeat Of The Spanish Armada Essays

The Defeat Of The Spanish Armada Essays The Defeat Of The Spanish Armada Essay The Defeat Of The Spanish Armada Essay The Spanish Armada was a powerful navy that attempted to enter England by force in 1588.This navy had been called previously The Invincible Armada, because the Spaniards thought that it could not be defeated (The History of).Philip II of Spain had many reasons to want to get rid of Queen Elizabeth.For a long time, English ships had been attacking Spanish treasure ships and raiding Spanish settlements in the Americas.Queen Elizabeth declined punishing the privateers and would not return the treasures that they had acquired.Another reason was the making of England an uncomfortable country for Catholics, since they could be fined or kept captive for not attending the Protestant Church.As she encouraged Protestant ideas, she was willing to fight against Catholic Spain.English troops had been fighting together with the Dutch rebels in their war opposing their Spanish rulers (Shenkman). The mentioned fleet was made up of 130 ships and 30,000 men, the majority of which were soldiers.On the other hand, the English carried no army at all, and only 16,000 sailors, along with long-range cannons on low quick ships to get manoeuvrability. The unforgettable Spanish defeat by the English comes still as a surprise for many, who cannot understand how they could crush a navy of such size.The commander of the armada was the Duke of Medina Sidonia, who accepted Philips appointment unwillingly since he did not have any military experience as the Spanish tactic, getting close to the enemy and let soldiers jump over to the opponents ships, gave away easily.The Duke was chosen because the previous commander had died in February that year, and because he was the greatest Spanish noble of the time.Even so, the Armada was still considered unbeatable (Mazour). The 30th of May of 1588, the Spanish Armada left towards English waters from Lisbon, Portugal, after the Pope had blessed the attack.Almost

The Way We Were (1973) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The Way We Were (1973) - Essay Example Love of literature and love of political affairs, apparently, are two distinct worlds with which Morosky and Gardner are especially drawn as lovers who struggle to resolve huge differences yet find themselves growing apart and wearied by human nature of holding on to individual professions and sense of individualism. â€Å"The Way We Were† emerges to embody a film that demonstrates how complex dimensions of history and philosophical culture of arguments may give birth to love which later finds itself walking out of the conflict with which it is built. At the onset, it is rather less difficult to assume possibility that forces of attraction could govern between Katie and Hubbell as college students of the 30s who initiate with the point of gaining interest over something peculiar or strange given that it is normal for their youth to understand complements as well as the tendencies of fascination and fondness attached with them. So, basically, this is the type of setting that prevails as a typical WASP encounters a Young Communist League member as if two distinct worlds settle to satisfy curiosities of each other in the hope of discovering further wonders that are established by the opposites. Hence, the way each one is becomes an object of consideration for the other to the extent that in the real time of love, individual temperaments are set aside. Certainly, this stage must take place in a film that is expected to justify its romantic theme, thus, with some degree of success Katie and Hubbell necessitates a formal bond. Beyond marriage, however, remains a question of intrinsic priority and stronger yearning to proceed with the essentials left behind without proper closure. In the story, Gardner could not help the desire to become a Hollywood screenwriter for which Morosky expresses fervent disagreement. Eventually, the opposites are too sharp to handle, no longer constituting the character that

Customer Value by Amway Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 10

Customer Value by Amway - Essay Example The present research has identified that Amway ensures that its products are satisfactory. This attracts the interest of customers and clients in the products and promotes the brand image. Customer retention and customer value are also realized. Constant research aimed at finding ways of improving the quality of Amway’s products and ensuring adherence to customers’ preferences is undertaken. The company does this through the over 500 active research employees it has employed. The company takes part in corporate responsibility programs (CSR) at an international level. This is a benefit to communities living within Amway’s business environment as they also gain from the company’s profits. Amway services the customer and not a global market or organizations. Its concentration is on the customer and ensuring that his needs and demands are met. This is expressed in the company’s vision. From the case study presented, it is clear that Amway ensures that c onsumers benefit from its products by offering quality products and indirectly rewarding the clients through corporate social responsibility.

World History College Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

World History College - Essay Example The condition of women within a particular society was dramatically impacted by the amount of socialization the central culture had developed. For example, India had a heavy caste system wherein women were viewed as weak, frivolous, unimportant, etc. (AUTHOR # 1 132). The fact that the social system perceived women in such a negative light, and was then too inflexible to accommodate change, resulted in women remaining in oppressive or inferior positions with no recourse. In fact, it was the very development of these types of systems that relegated women to a lower class structure. As AUTHOR # 2 states, "women enjoyed broader occupational options and a stronger voice within the family and in society as a whole before the emergence of centralized politics and highly stratified social systems (AUTHOR # 2 268). Not unpredictably, the more money a woman's family possessed, the better daily life she lived. A poor woman would be expected to work in the field or perform other menial tasks while a rich woman would be less likely to experience hardship.

Economic Growth and the Environment

Economic Growth and the Environment Will the world be able to sustain economic growth indefinitely without running into resource constraints or despoiling the environment beyond repair? What is the relationship between a steady increase in incomes and environmental quality? Are there trade-offs between the goals of achieving high and sustainable rates of economic growth and attaining high standards of environmental quality. For some social and physical scientists, growing economic activity (production and consumption) requires larger inputs of energy and material, and generates larger quantities of waste byproducts. Increased extraction of natural resources, accumulation of waste, and concentration of pollutants would overwhelm the carrying capacity of the biosphere and result in the degradation of environmental quality and a decline in human welfare, despite rising incomes. Furthermore, it is argued that degradation of the resource base would eventually put economic activity itself at risk. To save the environment and even economic activity from itself, economic growth must cease and the world must make a transition to a steady-state economy. At the other extreme, are those who argue that the fastest road to environmental improvement is along the path of economic growth: with higher incomes comes increased demand for goods and services that are less material-intensive, as well as demand for improved environmental quality that leads to the adoption of environmental protection measures. The strong correlation between incomes, and the extent to which environmental protection measures are adopted, demonstrates that in the longer run, the surest way to improve your environment is to become rich, Some went as far as claiming that environmental regulation, by reducing economic growth, may actually reduce environmental quality. As agriculture and resource extraction intensify and industrialization takes off, both resource depletion and waste generation accelerate. At higher levels of development, structural change towards information-based industries and services, more efficient technologies, and increased demand for environmental quality result in leveling-off and a steady decline of environmental degradation (Panayotou 1993), as seen in the Figure 1 below: The issue of whether environmental degradation (a) increases monotonically, (b) decreases monotonically, or (c) first increases and then declines along a country’s development path, has critical implications for policy. A monotonic increase of environmental degradation with economic growth calls for strict environmental regulations and even limits on economic growth to ensure a sustainable scale of economic activity within the ecological life-support system (Arrow et al. 1995) A monotonic decrease of environmental degradation along a country’s development path suggests that policies that accelerate economic growth lead also to rapid environmental improvements and no explicit environmental policies are needed; indeed, they may be counterproductive if they slow down economic growth and thereby delay environmental improvement. Finally, if the Environmental Kuznets Curve hypothesis is supported by evidence, development policies have the potential of being environmentally benign over the long run, (at high incomes), but they are also capable of significant environmental damage in the short-to-medium run (at low-to-medium-level incomes). In this case, several issues arise: (1) at what level of per capita income is the turning point? (2) How much damage would have taken place, and how can they be avoided? (3) Would any ecological thresholds be violated and irreversible damages take place before environmental degradation turns down, and how can they be avoided? (4) Is environmental improvement at higher income levels automatic, or does it require conscious institutional and policy reforms? and (5) how to accelerate the development process so that developing economies and economies in transition can experience the same improved economic and environmental conditions enjoyed by developed market economies? Policy Response In the OECD countries we observe a strong decoupling of emissions of local air pollutants from economic growth. OECD countries have achieved a strong decoupling between energy use and economic growth over the past 20 years, with the economy growing by 17% between 1980 and 1998 and energy use falling by the about the same percentage. Water and resource use continued to grow but at a rate slower than GDP growth reflecting a weak decoupling of the two. Thus decoupling of emissions in OECD and generally the developed ECE countries has been accomplished through a combination of technological change and a strong environmental policy. The latter consisting of â€Å"greening† of fiscal policy, removing subsidies to environmentally harmful activities and the use of economic instruments to internalise environmental cost. A number of EU policy initiatives, such as the Broad Economic Policy Guidelines 2001, among others have promoted a gradual but steady and credible change in the level and structure of the tax rates until external costs are fully reflected in prices, to cope with most of the fundamental structural problem in all developed countries, the unsustainable patterns of production and consumption. In the energy markets these guidelines aim to uses taxes and other market-based instruments to rebalance prices in favour of reusable energy sources and technologies. Other EU initiatives in this direction are the European Climate Change Programme (ECCP), the directive establishing an EU framework for emissions trading, and the Integrated Product Policy (IPP) all of which aim at realigning price relations and stimulating investments in new technologies that promote sustainable development. Member states are encouraged to improve market functioning by addressing market failures such as externalities through â€Å"increased use of market-based systems in pursuit of environmental objectives as they provide flexibility to industry to reduce pollution in a cost effective way, as well as encourage technological innovations†. Economic instruments such as gradual but steady and credible change in the level and structure of tax rates until external costs are fully reflected in prices are promoted as the most efficient means of decoupling economic growth from pollution, as they alter price relations and thereby also drive changes in technology and consumer behaviour (preference) that lie behind the growth-environment relationship. As exemplified by the energy and transport sectors, the EU decoupling policy consists of demand management through full-cost pricing and development of more environmentally friendly alternatives by promoting technological innovations. Since 1990 all economies in transition have made efforts to restructure their energy and transport sectors along market principles and to raise energy prices closer to economic and international levels. However because of the political sensitivity of energy pricing and the lagging reforms in many transition economies a gap of 20-85% continues to persist between energy prices in economies in transition. For example electricity prices for households in Eastern Europe are only 50 percent of those of the European Union; for industrial consumers, electricity prices are closer to their economic and international levels being 20% lower than those of the EU. The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe has repeatedly called upon its members to raise the prices of various energy sources to their full economic costs and adapt economic instruments to internalise the costs to human health and the environment associated with energy production and consumption. The aim is to decouple emissions from energy use and energy use from economic growth. Despite significant progress towards sustainable development developed countries are still experiencing unsustainable consumption patterns as evidenced by the continued growth of municipal waste and CO ² emissions. As transition economies begin to recover and grow again their emissions and resource use are also growing though less than proportionately. Their GDP energy-intensity, though declining, continues to be several times that of the developed countries while their consumption patterns are tracing the same path as that of their developed counterparts. Further decoupling of growth and environment and progress towards sustainable development calls for action on many fronts by both groups of countries as well as cooperation between them especially in technology transfer: Use of an effective mix of economic instruments such as taxes, charges and tradable permits to correct market and policy failures and to internalise environmental and social costs and induce changes in the composition of consumption and production. Improvement in resource use efficiency and â€Å"dematerialization† of the economy Change in the content of economies growth and this involves adjustments costs which tend to be greater the faster is the rate of change in relative prices; in particular those who lose need to be compensated by those who benefit Introduction of specific policies to preserve the living standards of those directly affected by the required adjustment and to avoid unemployment and social disruption; issues of inequality and social exclusion must be addressed.

People and society Essay

The writer basically talks about the conditions, events, problems, and trends of the larger regions as well as the individual nations. The writer basically uses a cross-disciplinary approach and talks about the physical landscapes and the culture that is being followed in the Asian-Pacific countries where most of the people live, mainly China and Japan. Moreover, some of the highest mountains and longest rivers are also found in Asia. These populated countries consist of many people belonging to various ethnic groups who follow different cultures, religions and speak different languages. (Weightman, 2001). The chapters that I would be mainly focusing are based on the aspects of people and society in Pacific Asia. The people of Japan mostly reside in Honshu, Kyushu, Hokkaido and Shikoku. The two terms that means people of Japan are Nipponjin and Nihonjin and they basically resemble the Tibetans. Japan has a very high population and in 2002 it was declared to be the 10th most populous countries; however the Japanese population has been facing a decline due to the western influence because of which small household have become a trend. Japan has a homogenous culture, tradition and language and the main religions are Buddhism and Shinto. Most of the people in Japan live in the urban areas than in cities. (Maps of the world. com, n. d. ). Like Japan, China is also one of the populous countries in the world. China is a multi ethnic country and majority of the population speak Chinese. (Welcome to China, n. d. ). Most of the people in China grow rice, ride bicycles and fewer cars can be seen only in cities. They Chinese people prefer doing things in the old ways their ancestors used to. The Chinese people use the decimal system as their currency that consists of paper money as well as the coins.(Ebrey, n. d. ). Reference Ebrey, P. B. (n. d. ). People. January 21st, 2009. Retrieved from: http://depts. washington. edu/chinaciv/geo/people. htm Maps of the world. com. (n. d. ). People of Japan. January 21st, 2009. Retrieved from: http://www. mapsofworld. com/japan/culture/people-of-japan. html Weightman , B. (2001). Dragons and Tigers: A Geography of South, East, and Southeast Asia. 2nd Edn. Wiley, Hardcover. Welcome to China. (n. d. ). People of China. January 21st, 2009. Retrieved from: http://www. tooter4kids. com/china/people_of_china. htm

Geographic History of Henequen in Yucatan, Mexico Essay

In Yucatan, Mexico, one of the main considered exports has been henequen that can be obtained from the plant Agave Fourcroydes. The henequen fiber has become significant to the economic stand of Yucatan since this product has conceived intense demand by international importers, such as the United States, China, Europe, etc. According to Cook (1994), during 1990s, the production of henequen has surged to a total economic export of 150,000 tons annually. In fact, the main production of henequen originates mainly from the state of Yucatan Mexico (p. 29). The state of Yucatan, Mexico, has significantly obtained economic benefits from the exports made through these henequen fibers, such as rope, rigs, sacks, and raw forms. They are usually shipped within the proximity of Merida and other cores of henequen production (Patch, 1993 p. 206). The bloom of henequen during the nineteenth century has significantly boosted the economy of the state, especially considering that they are world’s main exported of this product. From the analysis of the blooms’ occurrence, significant characteristics that have been present in the topographical condition of the state caused this immense bloom and production. The geography and climate of Yucatan State have been considered unique and very much suitable to the growth of henequen. In addition, considering the trends of exports and demands during the early 1900s, the market needs have significantly affected the consumption of the product. However, as the late nineteenth century approaches, the decline in the henequen demand in the market due to various reasons, such as competition, discovery of alternative products and conversion of haciendas in Yucatan, has become significantly noticeable. In the study, the discussion gives emphasis on the chronological history of henequen exports from Yucatan, Mexico. The study starts with the analysis of henequen bloom during the early 1900s until its significant decline during the late 20th century. The study also provides important facts on henequen growth, export historical trends contribution of climate for its growth, and the history of its market decline. Discussion Geography of Yucatan The most evident characteristic of Yucatan Peninsula is the presence of limestone shelf from the eastern to western sections that surfaces above sea level. The limestone shelf of Yucatan is present even below the sea, which is very much evident in the eastern Caribbean side. The key to the growth of Yucatan henequen is the thin limestone soils present as one of the characteristics of their lands (Sauer, 1993 p. 178). The areas of Merida and Ticul comprise the flat plains of Yucatan abundant in limestone deposits. Viewing the areas 60 km south from Merida, vast plains of Yucatan limestone are very much evident and the river areas are flow under the soil. According to Greensfelder & Dogett (2006), the significant characteristic of limestone present in Yucatan is the porous feature, which enables storage of mineral deposits as well as water source. Such features are important in promoting the growth of henequen plants, since the limestone act as the primary nutrient banks of crop roots (p. 17). The borders of the Yucatan state involve the Campeche located in the southern portion, Quintana Roo in the southeastern portion, and the Gulf of Mexico in the north and western perspective. Throughout the peninsula, lakes called lagunas are very much evident and from here on, Yucatan has also utilized cenotes or the collapsed freshwater caverns in order to obtain their freshwater. Yucatan also has their limestone pools called chenes, which also acts as their freshwater storage since the water deposits are usually brought by the underground streams. From this variety of ecologic characteristics has aroused the vast variation of exotic flora and fauna that kept the survival of Mayan civilization present in the area (Perry, 2001 p. 9). Climatology of Yucatan The Yucatan climate entails humid temperatures from November to February, while the driest season progress from November to April. Yucatan climatology is usually tropical and hot temperature progresses in an annual scope. The average annual temperatures for the Mexican Caribbean is 78 degrees F or 25. 5 degrees C with significant deviations of 5 to 7 degrees F. During the day temperatures can push into the 80s and overnight temperatures can drop as low as the 50s and low 60s degree F. The coolest months in this region are the between December to February, where the average highs are from 74 to 76 degrees F (Page, 2005 p. 10). Analyzing one of the areas where henequen is prominently produced, Merida, which is tropical and humid, obtains the annual precipitation of about 1,050mm, which signifies to potential evapotransportation of 2,000 mm (Anton, 1996 p. 118). The climatic condition of wet and dry area has been beneficial to the industry of henequen growth since this plant tend to adapt to tropical and humid environment, which describes Yucatan peninsula as the perfect place. Added by Anton (1996), the precipitation rates present in the entire peninsula accounts to a variation of 500 mm near the northwestern shore to more than 1,300 mm in the northeastern (p. 118). The Yucatan climate has been viewed as one of the contributors for the plant’s intense growth. The Agave Fourcroydes (Henequen) The henequen plant is very similar to the usual African sisal; hence, it has acquired the name Yucatan Sisal. The Agave fourcroydes plant can be easily recognized through their leaves that have a prickly and grayish green color. The leaves are processed in the same fashion as sisal, while the strands are carefully cleansed and place under the sun to dry (Cook, 1984 p. 29). The henequen stalks can extend up to 2 meters long and 10 cm to 15 cm wide. The preferential disadvantage of this plant is the presence of thorns, which is also viewed as one of the primary reasons for the preference of consumer to African sisal since stalks their stalks are free from thorns. A cultivated henequen plant can yield about 25 leaves annually from the fifth to the 16th year after its planting. Most commonly, the henequen plant can survive and grow for seven years without intensive maintenance. In fact, with the favorable topographical condition of Yucatan, the henequen plant usually survives without being attended by farmers (Greensfelder and Doggett, 2003 p. 191). The process of extracting fiber from this plant involves the cutting of their leaves and, from the factories; they grind these until the fiber strands are revealed. The main use of henequen is for the binder twine in wheat harvesting. The advantage of henequen product over synthetic fibers is its resistance to marine life propagation, such as algae, barnacles, etc (Greensfelder and Doggett, 2003 p. 191).

Baldcypress, an Excellent Tree Choice for Planting

Baldcypress, an Excellent Tree Choice for Planting Testimony after testimony from urban foresters and park administrators support the up and coming bald cypress or  Taxodium distichum  as the latest trend in selecting the best landscaping tree for many locations. Lawns, parks and street right-of-ways are growing baldcypress in profusion. Common baldcypress is an evergreen but acts deciduous as it drops its twiggy leaves in the fall. You can call it a deciduous conifer. The rich green color of the needles turn to copper orange then to brown and makes for one of autumns best colors just before twig and needle fall. Careful When Wet In wet soil conditions, the bald cypress will form sections of root growing above ground to gather oxygen. These knobby cypress knees can occur 10 to 15 beyond the spread of the plant. Cypress knees do not generally form on drier sites. On the Street Cities from Charlotte, NC, Dallas, TX to Tampa, FL currently use it as a street tree and it should be used more extensively throughout its range in urban landscapes according to most landscape professionals. Baldcypress can be clipped into a formal hedge, creating a wonderful soft screen or hedge. Art Plotnik,  The Uban Tree Book, says as a street tree, the  baldcypress  is getting rave recommendations and increasing use. Tree professionals of New Orleans, Charlotte,  Tampa  and Dallas are among others that put it on the streets. Ralph Sievert, Minneapolis MN Urban Forester who is respected as the â€Å"Johnny Appleseed† of  baldcypress, recommends it highly in his state and outside of the southern United States. Growth Bald cypress trees grow best when they have their own space and can potentially grow up to 2 feet per year. Bald cypress require sun (at least 1/2 day). They make a great screen when planted in groups and can be planted within 15 feet of a house.

Essays on Curriculum Development Essays

Essays on Curriculum Development Essays Essays on Curriculum Development Essay Essays on Curriculum Development Essay I will critically analyse and evaluate Functional skills English and GCSE English [N2] [N3]You should start by providing a definition of curriculum have a look in the study guide  The Functional Skills curriculum develops practical skills in English. It is a new qualification available to all learners aged 14 and above. Functional Skills English is not just about knowledge in English, it is about knowing when and how to use the knowledge in real life situations. Functional Skills English involves taking separate tests in speaking and listening, reading and writing which will give you a qualification if you pass them, giving you skills for life in english. They will also count towards other qualifications, including Diplomas and Apprenticeships, these are available in schools, colleges, training providers and the workplace. Functional Skills English is now part of the secondary school curriculum and is currently being piloted in a three-year scheme since 2010 along side GCSEs. During this time, the qualifications are being offered on their own at Entry Level, Level 1 and Level 2 on the National Qualifications Framework. Functional skills may be linked to the ideology of Progressivism, meeting individuals needs and aspirations so as to support their personal growth and strengthen a democratic society. This approach developed by John Dewey in the earlier 20th century was based around active problem solving in a variety of social contexts and encouraging people to learn how to think for themselves, make decisions and participate in a democratic society which now days would be the use of functional skills. (www.wakeypedia.org.uk)[N4]  Functional skills in practical terms explains that at level 2 in English, students are able to write something with accurate grammar, punctuation and spelling, and where the meaning is clear. GCSEs are the main qualification taken by 14 to 16 year olds in the UK, but are available to anyone who would like to study a subject that interests them. You can take GCSEs in a wide range of academic and work-related subjects. GCSE stands for General Certificate of Secondary Education. Its highly valued by schools, colleges and employers, so will be useful whatever you are planning to do in the future. The GCSE curriculum may be linked to the ideology of Instrumentalism: having an highly skilled and educated workforce that will meet the needs of international competition and values high levels of literacy. The instrumental curriculum sees knowledge in factual terms and is clearly lecturer/teacher/trainer led. Through this method students are prepared for the workplace and society in general. In relation to school leavers, having a GCSE in english to seek employment once leaving school is deemed as the norm. GCSEs are usually studied full-time at school or college, taking five terms to complete. A percentage of their final grade will be from course work produce as a portfolio.  For an English GCSE you must take an exam in English literature and an exam in English language, there is a choice of two tiers: higher or foundation. Each tier leads to a different range of grades. Your subject teacher normally decides which tier is best for you.  GCSEs were revised, so that from 2010, they are supposed to test thoroughly functional skills. If students fail to achieve level 2 in this test, they can not exceed a grade D at GCSE. If English GCSEs are not about functional skills, then what are they about? If students can pass English GCSE without being able to write clearly, such as writing a letter, or if they can pass Maths without being able to do everyday applied maths tasks such as working out their family budget then the curriculum has no validity. [N5](www.news.bbc.co.uk) states Mike Baker.  The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority began defining functional skills, producing a 52-page booklet intended as a helpful guide to the new tests. This explains that the level of functional skills will depend on the complexity of situations and activities, the technical demand associated with those activities, a learners level of familiarity with the task, and the level of independence with which they can complete the task.([N6]www.news.bbc.co.uk) So pupils can still get their GCSEs without passing a functional skills test first. Can we be sure that, from 2010, achieving a grade C in English or Maths GCSE will prove a student is functionally literate or numerate.  It will be interesting to see how many students getting Cs or above at GCSE also pass the functional skills level 2 tests which is deemed to be equivalent to a grade A-C GCSE. Without passing this test they would not be able to gain a grade C in these exams. If students can pass English GCSE without being able to write clearly, surely something is wrong. Mike Baker (2009)  FEEDBACK: These last few paragraphs read like a conclusion. However, although this is interesting you havent made it relevant to the task. Your conclusion needs to sum up what you did in the essay and what you discovered and briefly state any opinions, such as, which curriculum you think is better.

DISCUSS THE SCIENTIFIC STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES OF EVOLUTIONARY Essay

DISCUSS THE SCIENTIFIC STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES OF EVOLUTIONARY PSYCHOLOGY - Essay Example that the study of biology is significantly connected with the study of psychology, a lot of philosophers and psychologists are convinced that combining both could enable them to develop a more scientific explanation behind the study of the human minds. In the process, psychologists and scientists have been supporting the progress of the evolutionary psychology. Despite many people who believes in the purpose of evolutionary psychology, there are also several critiques who questions its scientific validity. and ‘natural selection.’ Dawkins (1986) and Williams (1966) explain that the natural selection allows the evolutionary process to be able to acknowledge a more complex functional organization into the phenotype of the species. In the book written by George William (1966) Adaptation and Natural Selection, he discussed the issue on the importance of ‘adaptationist approach’ in terms of examining the reasons behind the ability of human mind to adapt with its environment. In line with this matter, James (1890) announces that the application of an evolutionary approach could enable us to learn more information from what our own instinct fails to determine. In the process wherein psychologists and philosophers are able to distinguish and realize the fact that: (1) natural competence really exists; and (2) the human brain is one example that is characterized by such a complex competences, we are able to develop a possible theory behind the design of the human mind . Adaptations are important since it could enable the psychologists and philosophers to solve a problem. (Williams, 1966) Dawkins (1986) also gave emphasis that through the principles of adaptation approach, evolutionary biologists and psychologists could be able to find a more concrete ideas and solution to the problems that may arise behind the study of the human mind structure. Prior to the evolutionary psychology, philosophers and scientists strongly agree that the human mind resembles a

Ch 2 DBA Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 15000 words

Ch 2 DBA - Essay Example Previously, traditional economies and organisations relied upon assets such as capital and land having physical values. In the modern economy, this trend has changed and knowledge is now the key factor to gaining competitive advantage (Beijerse, 1999). In the contemporary business world, knowledge sharing fundamentally means that employees contribute to knowledge application, innovation, and ultimately the competitive advantage of the organisation (Wang & Noe, 2010). Knowledge sharing has distinct advantages. It is positively related to reduction in production costs, faster completion of new product development projects, team performance, firm innovation capabilities and firm performance. Firm performance includes sales growth and revenue from new products and services (Wang & Noe, 2010). Scholars have divided knowledge into two forms – explicit and tacit – when it comes to the nature of the knowledge (Nonaka et al., 2000; Smith, 2001; Lindvall & Rus, 2002). Explicit knowledge is saved in codified form in databases and can be easily conveyed to the receiver without any misunderstanding (Smith, 2001). Tacit knowledge is ‘know-why and ‘know-how’ and can be referred to as experimental knowledge. Smith (2001) describes tacit knowledge as the unarticulated part of knowledge residing in an individual ´s mind. This type of knowledge, unlike explicit knowledge, is hard to present in a written format thereby making it difficult to transfer to others or store (Smith, 2001). The knowledge sharing in organisations is dependent on the nature of the knowledge being shared (tacit and explicit knowledge). Sharing, transferring, and storing tacit and explicit knowledge differs from each other. Tacit knowledge is the unarticulated part of knowledge r esiding in the individual ´s mind (Smith, 2001). Although knowledge sharing is considered to be of a vital importance to organisations, it will not be achieved if there is lack of a knowledge sharing culture, trust, and