Knowledge Intensive Firms and Knowledge Workers Research Paper

Knowledge Intensive Firms and Knowledge Workers - Research Paper Example Southern power continues to find opportunities to implement its strategy of creating value through its numerous transactions such as asset acquisition and selling, establishment of novel power plants, entrance into Power Plants Associations mostly with other investor-owned utilities, municipalities, independent power producers, and electric cooperatives (Google Finance, 2015, p. 1). In Southern Co’s operations, FERC plays the crucial role of providing the operation regulations instead of following traditionally defined state regulations like any other traditional operating company. Though operating as one large company, the Southern Company operates under several leveraged leases such as Southern LINC Wireless that offers digital wireless communications for Southern Co.’s uses. For purposes of this paper, the evaluation Southern Company is limited to company’s proactive approach to preparing for disaster recovery. For a long time, Hurricane Katrina has been known for its numerous complex challenges such as 100% loss of power for customers, 65% of power delivery system damages, 97% loss of power generation capacity, approximately 9,000 damaged or damaged power poles, transformer damages, 100% dilapidated corporate offices, and more than half of the residents suffering noteworthy damages for their homes (Ward, 2006, pp. 7-13). Other challenges experienced during the Katrina hurricane are communication loss and devastation infrastructure. Through its investment and prioritization of knowledge base management, Southern Co. effectively planned on eliminating the challenges associated with the Katrina Hurricane through approaches such as a reduction in the time duration required to restore power to its customers, provision of family services, assisting emp loyees with personal losses, and daily provision of thousands of fuel gallons daily.

Biodiversity Lab Essay Example for Free

Biodiversity Lab Essay 1. Explain how the ecosystem was affected by the missing species for each round of the demonstration. a. Round 1 = white bead representing lichens. Our laboratory reading for the experiment stated that lichens are instrumental in the development and needs for all species. The text stated, â€Å"Lichens play a part in the creation of soils from which plants can obtain nutrients. Like all living organisms, lichens need nutrients and energy to grow. Nutrients may be obtained from the air including dust, water, and from the substrate organisms grows on obtaining energy through photosynthesis, which is the role of the algal partner. They may also be incidentally fertilized hybrid and insect dung† (Bottcher Rex, 2012, p. 43). With the information obtained from the reading, without lichens, bees, trees, flowers, and humans will all have negative repercussions. b. Round 2 = Yellow bead, representing bees. No bees and lichens the trees will not be pollenated, which will result in a loss of a food source  for humans since bees pollenate trees and flowers for food. Without bees to pollenating, the ecosystems takes another dramatic step towards extinction. One study stated, â€Å"Deduction from floral structure indicates that the flowers of many crops and wild plants are adapted for bee pollination. Further experimental studies of pollination are much needed, to see whether inadequate pollination limits seed set, and which insect species are potential or actual pollinators. The adequacy of pollination of a given plant species will vary regionally with climate, habitat and the nature and density of the local pollinator community† (Corbet, Williams, Osborne, 1991, para. 3). Minus the bees, the results for all other species will be negatively impacted. c. Round 3 = Orange bead, representing trees. The trees are dependent on lichens and with lichens removed. The trees will not have enriched soil to keep living. This is the reason for loss of oxygen for all species who require it and without bees, the fruit that some trees produce will cease to exist, causing food shortages and lack of shade and protection for flowers and humans (Bottcher Rex, 2012). d. Round 4 = Red bead, representing flowers. Lichens removed the soil could not adequately support nutrients required to keep alive. The flowers needs protection and shade from trees to sustain life and the trees were removed due to soil composition and loss of lichens from ecosystem. 2. Provide one action we as humans engage in that leads to the extinction of each of these components. Action affecting Lichens = The use of pesticides, chemicals, other pollutants, and people cause damage to this component that can lead to the irreversible impact on the lichens. Action affecting Trees = The destruction of soil and pollution, a major area where humans are impacting trees is through the removal of forests for trees to support human projects and constructions. â€Å"Ninety-three percent of the forestland in the United States is Privately owned† (Hazel baker, 2008, para. 1). Action affecting Flowers = Even though our chemicals are killing these flowers and making the soil contaminated and resistant to flower species. The use of pesticides and other chemicals, flowers are not engineered like crop seed to survive these chemicals. Action affecting Bees = Due to several human factors, bees are being threatened and destruction of their habitat is the number one reason. For a habitat to remain successful and sustain populations it must provide nesting sites and a seasonal succession of forage, and humans are depleting these areas through population growth and industrialization (Corbet, Williams, Osborne, 1991). 3. Provide three specific actions that humans can take to minimize our impact on the ecosystem and ensure the survival of lichens, trees, flowers, and bees. Action 1 = Bees are a critical part of the ecosystem. Humans need to ensure habitat sustainment to sustain bee populations do not deteriorate to levels that cannot be corrected. â€Å"Bees need food (nectar, pollen) provided by insect-pollinated plants in order to reproduce and produce more bees† (Corbet, Williams, Osborne, 1991, p 2). By creating hives and environments that are conducive to bee sustainment, it is possible that strides can be to reverse the downward trend in populations. This is critical as one study showed. It stated that the loss of bees was a domino effect to other species. It stated, â€Å"If bee pollinated flowers  do not seed, the integrity of Europe’s remaining semi natural vegetation will be destroyed and the colorful flowers of the countryside will be lost. This in turn will deprive many other herbivorous or seed-eating insects, birds and small mammals of their host plants and/or food,  with consequent further loss of species diversity†(Corbet, Williams, Osborne,1991, p 2). Through the saving of the bees, the increase of pollinated of other species helps ensure survival of flowers Action 2 = Humans can stop polluting the soil and surface of lands through illegal dumping, spills, etc. that contaminate and kill lichens that are critical in soil creation and providing nutrients to other plants and trees. With the help of government agencies and through stricter enforcement, creation of neutral pesticides and chemicals, and other products to eliminate harm to the environment and providing a healthier ecosystem for all life to thrive. Action 3 = The best way to save our tree populations is to protect the public lands from forest harvesting and ensure there environmental regulations for commercial logging businesses. â€Å"93% of the forestland in the United States is privately owned† (Hazelbaker, 2008, para. 1). That means that there are plenty of lands available for harvesting and ensuring forests do not die off and leave the negative impacts and loss of a precious resource. Due to the benefits that can be found in the national and state forests, such as clean air, fresh water, etc. I feel it is a good practice to prevent commercial access on these lands. These lands serve as a refuge to wildlife and often provide unique opportunities to the citizens who rarely get an opportunity to experience nature and these environments. POST LAB QUESTIONS 1. Develop a hypothesis on which pot you believe will contain the highest biodiversity. Hypothesis = One pot has direct exposure to sunlight it will have the highest level of biodiversity 2. Based on the results of your experiment, would you reject or accept the hypothesis that you produced in question 1? Explain how you determined this. Accept/Reject = Reject. Table 2 of this experiment, the pot that was placed from all windows had a greater diversity of growth from the random seeds planted in it, versus the one with direct sunlight. The pot that had direct sunlight yielded smaller totals in each of the five plants planted in each pot as well as a smaller overall plant yield. While some individual plants had close results, there was a total difference of the total plants of 48. 3. If each pot was a sample you found in a group of wildflowers, would you determine based on the diversity of flowers that the ecosystem is healthy? Why or why not. Answer = I would say that each sample would yield results of a healthy ecosystem based on the diversity in each sample. Each plant has samples of  all five seeded plants planted and yielded results in two weeks. While both specimens yielded results, I would say the ecosystem sample that was not in direct sunlight did show signs of a healthier ecosystem and believe that the temperature and light changes the other sample was exposed to could have played a part in the results. Example, living in Arizona my residence has low humidity and low temperatures at night and moderate temperatures in the mid-morning through sundown that affected the sample with sunlight exposure. The other sample, the one away from the windows, sat in the middle of my apartment on a shelf in the laundry room, with no direct exposure to sunlight, but not completely in the dark, had more stable temperatures and had constant ambient light exposure through the day and did not suffer cold drafts from the windows that could have made the other specimens plants yield lower results. 4. How does biodiversity contribute to the overall health of an ecosystem? Provide specific examples and utilize at least one scholarly resource to back your answer. Answer = Biodiversity contributes to all levels of an ecosystem. â€Å"Biodiversity, short for biological diversity, includes the genetic variation between all organisms, species, and populations, and all of their complex communities and ecosystems. It also reflects to the interrelatedness of genes, species, and ecosystems and their interactions with the environment† (Bottcher Rex, 2012, p. 39). The experiment with the two pots is similar to that of a forest ecosystem. â€Å"A functioning forest ecosystem, for example, exhibits rates of plant production, carbon storage, and nutrient cycling that are characteristic of most forests† (Chapin, Costanza, Ehrlich, Golley, Hooper, Lawton, Tilman, 1999, para. 9). The five seeds that grew in each pot were sharing nutrients from the soil and the evidence showed that certain species thrived in numbers over the others that grew. As one research analysis on biodiversity, there are always species interactions that have impact on the other species. The study stated, â€Å"Ecosystem functioning results from interactions among and within different levels of the biota, which ecologists describe as a nested hierarchy. Example, green  plant production on land is the end product of interactions of individual plants nested within populations; interactions among populations nested within a single species; interactions among a variety of species nested within a group of functionally similar species; and so on up to the level of interactions between different types of ecosystems nested within landscapes† (Chapin, Costanza, Ehrlich, Golley, Hooper, Lawton, Tilman, 1999, para. 11). While some ecosystems continue to exist, some thrive, the harm being done to, and overall health of the ecosystem is dependent on the actions we as humans take. Our society has destroyed ecosystems, species, etc. and pollution, air quality, and other factors have seen many ecosystems destroyed and become extinct. â€Å"From current research, we have identified the following impacts on ecosystem functioning that often result from loss of biodiversity: -Plant production may decline as regional and local diversity declines; -Ecosystem resistance to environmental perturbations, such as drought, may be lessened as biodiversity is reduced. -Ecosystem processes such as soil nitrogen levels, water use, plant productivity, and pest and disease cycles may become more variable as diversity declines† (Chapin, Costanza, Ehrlich, Golley, Hooper, Lawton, Tilman, 1999, para. 11). In the end, if action is not taken soon, the devastation created through our industrialization, over population in countries across the world, etc. can lead to consequences that can see more devastation and harm that may not be able to be undone if our society fails to take the necessary action to sustain life of all ecosystems. References Hilmo, O., Sà ¥stad, S. M. (2001). Colonization of old-forest lichens in a young and an old boreal i Picea abies forest: an experimental approach. Biological Conservation, 102 (3), 251-259. Chapin III, F. S., Costanza, R., Ehrlich, P. R., Golley, F. B., Hooper, D. U., Lawton, J. H., Tilman, D. (1999). Biodiversity and ecosystem functioning: maintaining natural life support processes. Washington, DC: Ecological Society of America. Hazelbaker, J. (2008). Logging on national forests national forest management zero cut – no. Retrieved from: http://www.worldissues360.com/index.php/logging-on-national-forests-national-forest-management-zero-cut-no-26744/. Corbet, S. A., Williams, I. H., Osborne, J. L. (1991). Bees and the pollination of crops and wild flowers in the European Community. Bee World 7 (2), 47-59.

Graduation Speech: We Are Giants :: Graduation Speech, Commencement Address

Sept. 8, 2008: Colossal corridors and mammoth Seniors greeted our frightened Freshmen. Though we clung desperately to our remaining drops of confidence from the pinnacle of eighth grade, they evaporated under the sheer intensity of high school. We dared not poke our unprotected heads out to view this new realm, too terrified of who or what we might find. Some of us, it seemed, feared our strange surroundings would swallow us whole. Fortunately, curiosity overpowered even the most paralyzing insecurity, and slowly we prodded our boundaries, cautiously testing our skills and talents. We joined clubs and teams that matched our abilities, carving a circle of compassionate friends from the once-distant swarm. And backed by the support of these caring allies, we settled into the routine of adolescence. Until someone uttered those eight terrifying words: "What will you be when you grow up?" Of course, we had first been introduced to this ambiguous question while still in diapers, but always had brushed it aside with the thought, "I'll decide later." High school, we discovered, was later. So we embarked on the tedious process of inventing our dreams. We scoured the career center, hounded our counselors, pestered our parents and teachers. We pleaded with friends to answer in our stead. Certainly, we knew it was our decision, but we had to try to get out of it, right? Make someone else decide. But there is one instant in everyone's life when they explode from beneath that Xeroxed shroud of "General Public" and slip into the shimmering gown of "Individualism." Soon we understood that to find our passions we must step beyond the tight, comfortable confines or our abilities. We were forced to expose ourselves once more to the vulnerability of trial and error. But this time, as we delved into unfamiliar activities, we had the self-assurance to attempt the experiment. And so, amid the swirling waters of high school, backed by constant guidance from faculty, parents, and peers, we gradually formulated a future.

Explain Platos Theories of Form Essay

Plato was born in 429 B. C. As the son of a wealthy nobleman, he turned his back on a political scene, and devoted himself to writing ideas of his master, complimented with his own views in his dialogues. One particular theory he dedicated his time to was the the theory of ‘The forms’. Plato’s theory of forms is strongly based on what is real and what is not. What is real is thought to be perfect, but something cannot be real or perfect if it is always changing. He believed that behind every concept in the visible world, there is an unseen reality, which he calls its Forms. A form is an abstruse property or quality. The forms may be seen as ideal blueprints for the particular earthly example of beauty and trees, and so on, which Plato called particulars. If you take any property of an object and then separate it from that object and consider it by itself, you are deliberating a form. For example, if you separate the roundness of a tennis ball from its color, power and its weight, etc. and consider just roundness by itself, you are thinking of the from of roundness. Plato reasoned that this property of roundness existed not just in the appearance of a tennis ball, but in a different mode of existence. Plato believed that therefore all round objects, not just this tennis ball, participate or copy this same form of roundness. The same thing occurs with concepts like equality; we recognise two shapes are being equal because we have some awareness of the Form of Equality. Plato explains that the â€Å"World of forms† is very different to the â€Å"Visible world†. The â€Å"World of forms† can only be properly understood by philosophers and those who seek knowledge, not by the ignorant or those who do not wish to learn the truth. The theory of forms makes an analysis between those objects that are real and those that are only real in our minds. Plato emphasised that the Forms exist separately from their particulars. The Forms are eternally more real than their particulars, which only ‘appear’ to exist and therefore are very vague reflections of the Forms. The forms are radically different from the visible world in that they are not dependent upon or made of Physical matter. Plato believes that physical matter is inherently illusory and unreliable because it is subject to change. As the source of all knowledge possible, the Forms must be totally consistent meaning that it is eternal and unchanging, they transcend and go beyond the material. They are therefore immaterial (non-physical) which is why they cannot be detected by the senses but through the soul. Unlike the Forms, the particulars depend on physical matter and are changeable and imperfect. Plato believes that the different Forms are all connected to each other in a fixed order of importance. Most important of all is the Form of the Good, which is central to the existence of the whole universe. It is the principle of order, which structures the other forms, giving each other Forms, giving each other its own nature. Without this Form, there would be no ideal of beauty or justice etc†¦ According to Plato, knowledge of the Good is the highest knowledge a human is capable of. The ordinary person struggles to see past the illusion of this world because they ware ruled by their senses. Only the philosopher is capable of seeing beyond, because he can make a priori judgements The analogy of â€Å"The Cave† relates to the theory of ‘The Forms’ . Plato used the cave story to explain the importance of questioning everything like a philosopher does in order to distinguish between the unreal physical world and the real spiritual world lit by the sun. The prisoners in the cave are people who just accept everything at face value and never try to understand and ask questions. Their lives are therefore empty and meaningless. The tied prisoners are in an illusory world, what they think is reality, the shadows, is not really reality at all. Plato says that their situation is no different from ours. In Plato’s thinking people do not see the Forms clearly, only the illusory physical world. The puppets that people carry are also images of the Forms. These images are themselves only imitations or copies of the true reality of the Forms. The prisoner that breaks away and escapes making the tough journey (tough, because this relates to the distress it causes for a philosopher to change someones mind) out of the cave is the philosopher who wants to know what is really going on. In the outside world. As the sun gives life to all things and illuminates them, enabling us to see them for what they are, meaning the Form of the Good gives rise to all knowledge, enabling us to recognise the other Forms. The Theory of Forms represents Plato’s attempt to advance our expansion for abstract thought. Philosophy was a relatively new invention in Plato’s day, and it competed with mythology, tragedy, and epic poetry as the primary means by which people could make sense of their place in the world. Art and mythology was appealing to our emotions and desires whereas philosophy appeals to the intellect. The Theory of Forms differentiates the abstract world of thought from the world of the senses, where art and mythology operate. Plato said that abstract thought is superior to the world of the senses.

Relationship Between Speaking And Listening

Kelsey responded in a very clear way. I agree that you cannot have one without the other. Like Kelsey said, when you are younger and learning to talk, you listen to what other people say. If no one were to listen when they were younger, than nobody would know how to talk. Joey also brought up a great point He mentioned body language. Although you do not need to listen with your ears to read body language, you still need to focus on what the other person is trying to say. Listening is basically trying to focus on what another person is trying to get out to others whether it is with your eyes, or your ears. Pratt Gag 6, 2009 Speaking and listening go together like best and friend. The reason this is the analogy that I chose is because best friends listen when their best friend is speaking. Although, speaking does not require listening, and listening does not require speaking. Many times when I am talking to someone in my family they tune me out, ignore me. It is in times such as this w hen speaking does not demand listening. Speaking does not always need listening because often times the words being said are little more than idle chatter.For and example, Melinda says on page 86, â€Å"By the time we eat dinner, the Battle is roaring at lull pitch. Grades, blah blah blah, Attitude, blah blah blah, Help around the house, blah blah blah, Not a kid anymore, blah blah blah. † Also, on page 115 Melinda is daydreaming while her parents are talking with the school guidance counselor and the school principal. â€Å"In my headword they jump on Principal Principals desk an perform a tap-dance routine. A spotlight flashes on them. A chorus line joins in, and the guidance counselor dances around a spangled cane. I giggle. Zap.Back in their world. † In neither of these passages is Melinda listening, but people are still speaking. Thus, speaking can exist thou listening. Likewise, listening does not require speaking. It is possible you listen to things that cannot speak. Also, it is possible to listen to others, even when they do not speak. So many times share looks with my friends that say more than a thousand words ever could. To provide a real life example, today at band camp was talking to my best friend, but neither of us were speaking. Yet I know that she was listening to me, and to her.As an example from the book, page 152 is excellent. Melinda is hiding in her closet at school and she talks about her poster speaking to her. â€Å"Maya taps me on he shoulder. I'm not listening. I know I know, I don't want to hear it. I need to do something about Rachel, cometh inning for her. Maya tells me without saying anything. † Even though Melinda says that she is not listening to Maya, she evidently is. Maya isn't really saying anything, seeing as she is part of an inanimate object. Considering this, listening can also exist without speaking just as speaking can also exist without listening.Two different people, independent from each other , yet held fast by an unbreakable bond. Two different ideas, independent from each other, yet held together by an iron link. Best friends are truly just the same as speaking and listening. Choice Gag 7, 2009 The relationship between speaking and listening is that if someone is speaking for a particular reason, there is usually someone or something on the other end listening and possibly benefiting from the speaker. One can exist without the other to an extent. Someone can speak to themselves but the only one listening is themselves.Also, someone can listen to anything. Music, rain falling, cars passing by, and so many other things that are able to be listened to but none of those things are qualified as speaking. So I believe pea king cannot exist without listening, but listening can exist without speaks Eng. Junkyard's Gag 7, 2009 First of all, wow great response Beck! She's right! Speaking and listening definitely go together like brother and sister, however you have the choice to be listening when others are speaking or vice versa.Page 86 as Beck mentioned says, â€Å"By the time we eat dinner, the Battle is roaring at full pitch. Grades, blah blah blah, Attitude, blah blah blah, Help around the house, blah blah blah, Not a kid anymore, blah blah blah. † Page 115 Melinda is daydreaming while her parents are talking with the school guidance nonsense and principal. â€Å"In my headword, they jump on Principal Principals desk an perform a tap-dance routine. A spotlight flashes on them. A chorus line joins in, and the guidance counselor dances around a spangled cane. Giggle. Zap. Back in their world. † Right on again!This proves to us that speaking does not always need listening, and even in our everyday lives we often times speak random words knowing that no one is listening. Beck also mentioned a great example on page 152 of listening without speaking. Melinda talks about her poster Maya, â€Å"Maya taps me on the shoulder. I'm not listening. I know I know, I don't want to hear it. I need to do something about Rachel, something for her. Maya tells me without saying anything. † Although Mel says she is not listening, she obviously does. Therefore, listening can also exist without speaking just as speaking can exist without listen inning. Griming Gag 10, 2009 There is a symbiotic relationship between speaking and listening. One cannot exist without the other effectively. This goes back to the age old saying, if a tree falls in the forest but if no one is around to hear it did the tree actually make any noise when it fell. You can speak all you want but if no one is existing there is no point in speaking. You can listen all you want but if no one is speaking there is no point in listening. This is how Melinda felt, she could talk all she wanted but she thought no one would listen, so she figured there was no point in talking.Referring back to page 1 84 when Melinda speaks out and tells Rachel that she was raped, Rachel believes her at first but then when the person that raped Melinda was Earache's boyfriend she calls Melinda a liar and does not believe her. Dishtowel Gag 1 0, 2009 Beach, think you did a good job of exploring all of the opportunities between peaking and listening. It is true that the two go together like brother and sister, but I think that they can also stand on their own. Harrison, I would like to point out something when you said â€Å"You can speak all you want but if no one is listening there is no point in speaking. I think you have a valid point, but aren't there some people that say things purposely when nobody is listening, just to get it off of their chest without the fear of others' judgment? Think that speaking and listening have a very complicated, semi-dependent relationships with each other. Pratt Gag 10, 2009 Thanks Jean! This was actually my favorite question to answer because it was a challenge, but I knew that I would be able to come up with a good answer. Laur en, I want to bring up what you said about saying things when people aren't listening just to get it off your chest.I think that is something that we as teenagers all do. For instance, people mutter to themselves and someone says â€Å"What? † and you reply â€Å"Nothing. † then they proceed to say â€Å"What? No, seriously, tell me. Want know! † Often times I find that the person who muttered is saying something negative to themselves that they do not want everyone around them to hear, but if they do not say it they will flip. Or also, many times I will go off by myself and just try to explain things to myself to try and figure things out. No one is listening, yet I am still speaking.And as I am speaking, I am helping myself by bringing thoughts to the surface to help organize and collect myself. Speaking aloud helps me a lot, even when no one is listening. So Harrison, I also disagree with your point stating that no point exists in speaking if no one is listen ing, because speaking can be extremely worthwhile, perhaps even more worthwhile when no one is listening, because o one will interject and argue with you. Nanas Gag 12, 2009 In a mix of words Sarah says that though there is a relationship between speaking and listening, not everyone will choose to listen to what they hear.Speaking and listening cannot exist without each other and if you want to be listened to you must first listen to others and speak up so that others hear and listen to you. There is a difference between hearing and listening and if you want to speak you must be understanding and willing to listen to what others have to say as well. In Speak, Sarah states that Melinda does not speak of her rape and this is true. Though many people are willing to listen to Melinda such as her friends, mother and father, David Petrifies, Mr..Freeman and potentially others, she feels as though no one would hear her or just choose not to listen. Sarah quotes Melanin's realization that t hough, â€Å"IT†, meaning Andy Evans raped her and that it might not ever leave her, she can grow from it. When she finally figures out that it is Okay to share what occurred at the party and speak to others about it Melinda begins to grow again. Agree with Sarah that the only way Melinda can over come what happened is by speaking about it and having other people listen to her. Crooking Gag 28, 2009 Sarah Footfall makes a really good point in her explanation.