Technology Management Assignment

Introduction The emergence of new technologies has made a big impact on business management. Technology applications have been proven to enhance the acquisition of information and resources. Technology has also become an important element in decision making and product innovation. As such, without technology management, organizations cannot survive in the current business environment. Technology management has also been proven as a key component in the creation of wealth. Therefore, the management of technology, especially for technology intensive firms, is essential for their survival and to maintain their competitive advantage. Technology management is a multi-disciplinary field, which works as a bridge between engineering and business disciplines. The importance of technology management cannot be overlooked. In recent years, all leading developments in the global business environment are the result of the application of technology management (Khalil, 2000). Technology management is related to innovation (Mortar et al., 2009). In the current business and technological environment, corporations and SMEs must be able to adapt and evolve if they want to survive and expand their business. The ability and willingness to change is essential to survive in today’s highly competitive environment. As such, innovation has become an important aspect in the culture of an organization and is seen as a driving force in achieving growth (Trott, 2005). Innovation, in turn, is recognized as one of the results of efficient technology management. Technology management is a dynamic tool that can be utilized for various industries, both in the private and government sectors. The education sector is one of the areas where technological improvement is needed. This can be achieved through the use of online learning software and other related tools. Online learning communities are a growing feature in the landscape of educational technology. These tools and technology-oriented software are the key improvements in the education system and this has been proven with the passage of time (Herrington & Oliver, 2000) This essay analyses Pakistan’s education market to find the gaps in the use of technology in the country’s education sector. To illustrate the importance of technology management, the essay also discusses its application in relation to the development of new software targeted for the education sector in Pakistan. The development of the new software is carried out with the guidance of an appropriate technology oriented-business model and business plan. This is done to minimize the risk and uncertainty involved in the product development process. Literature Review Benefits of Technology ManagementLooking at the economic history of the UK, technological management has been recognized as one of the key factors in the birth and development of the industrial sector during the nineteenth century (Trott, 2005). Since then, technology management has been an important aspect in economic and business growth. Technology management is recognized as an important element in business management. Firms have utilized technology management in their operations and have adapted it to suit their business needs (Pilkington & Teichert, 2006). Many organizations are going through radical transformations due to technological changes that are happening on a global scale (Levin & Barnard, 2008). In this scenario, technology management is seen as playing an important role in managing organizational change. Over the years, many authors have focused on how to manage technology resources (Cetindamar, Phaal & Probert, 2009). Technology management involves processes to enhance performance and utilization of resources. It involves the acquisition and integration of existing knowledge into the creation of new knowledge. This is an important factor for an organization to survive in the current competitive environment. Every organization must have the flexibility to change and create new knowledge by adapting to the changes in the market. This will lead to higher performance and sustainable competitive advantage (Liu et al., 2006). Technology management is identified as a crucial factor for the long-term success and profitability of an organization. Technology is considered as one of the core assets that a firm relies on (Cockburn & Henderson, 1998). Technology management enables an organization to utilize its resources in creative ways in order to enhance performance and increase profit margin and market share. The company can also acquire and manage resources with the help of technology management. Challenges in Technology ManagementOne of the main difficulties in business is to manage uncertainty. This is the same challenge in technology and innovation management. New product innovation is a complex process. There are numerous factors and risks involved in innovation. The organization has to manage internal and external risks. Some of these are manageable while others are beyond their control. The management of the innovation process, which is a subset of technology management, involves trying to develop the creative potential of the organization. It involves the fostering of new ideas and generating creativity. Managing uncertainty is a central feature of managing the innovation process and managing technology (Trott, 2005). When there is new product innovation related to technology, the chances of uncertainty arises. Different experts have worked on these issues and have developed theories to avoid uncertainty or to create a better understanding of uncertainty, which occurs from new innovation. One of the theories in avoiding uncertainty is Pearson’s Uncertainty Map. This was developed after extensive analysis of different case studies of major technological innovations, including Pilkington’s float glass process, 3M’s Post-It Notes, and Sony’s Walkman (Pearson, 1991). Establishing something new is the essence of product innovation and this process necessarily involves risk. Therefore, early risk identification and management is required by innovative firms. Risk and uncertainty usually occur at the beginning of a new innovation process. It is important to note that innovation is not just about opening up new markets. Innovation can also present new ways of serving older and established markets. Technology Management and InnovationIn today’s fast changing business world, innovation has become a fundamental component in organizations. The speed of innovation has changed the nature of global economic growth – made possible by the rapid evolution of technology, shorter product lifecycles, and a higher degree of new product development. Additionally, the availability of more knowledge to firms has made innovation even more complex (Du Plessis, 2007). From this perspective, innovation is undeniably a product of technology management. One of the primary roles of technology is as an enabler – it ‘encourages the constant need to evaluate, update, and employ changing job descriptions and business processes’ (Savino 2009, p.1). Technological advancements have significantly changed how businesses operate and how employees go about doing their work. The new paradigm in business organizations is the continuous demands for improvement and the acquisition of knowledge in a very dynamic and constantly evolving environment. The catalyst that enables constant improvement and innovation is technology (Savino 2009). As such, it is highly important to manage technology in the pursuit of innovation. Researchers have recognized that large multinational firms are one of the key drivers for the globalization of research and development (R&D) and innovation activities. A study by Gerybadze & Reger (1999) found that R&D and innovation strategies have changed over the years. Since the mid-1990s, multinational corporations have been inclined to consolidate and streamline their operations. This shift in technology management strategy is due to the failures of distributed R&D activities and globally-dispersed innovation processes, which have led to highly complicated and unmanageable organizational structures. Consequently, firms have opted for leaner and more effective types in managing the portfolio of innovation activities. Using Business Models for Product Innovation One of the ways to manage risk in new product innovation is to come up with an appropriate business model or business plan. A business model helps in making the innovation successful and avoiding the chances of failure, which is one of the risks of innovation. Although creating and implementing the business model for a small firm is not an easy process, many firms utilize this in order to minimize the chances of failure (Lindgren, 2011). Business models have been the focus of both the academic writers and practitioners. Creating a business model is now a part of the innovation process (Zott, Amit & Massa, 2011). Researchers found that most firms have a variety of activities and corresponding business models. As such, a firm can use different business models to suit their various activities or a multi-business model approach can be used. Carrying out the perfect business model is not an easy task especially for the SME’s because they have limited resources; lack knowledge about the business; and have few business tools to support their activities (Neffics, 2010). Developing a new software for Pakistan’s education sector There is an existing gap in the use of technology in Pakistan’s education sector. Although there are some online tools that are used to manage online data and news, the information is usually found and managed in university websites only. There are currently no private providers of online learning software in universities in Pakistan. The new ruling of the Higher Education Commission (HEC) requires all education institutes to set online databases. As such, universities need to develop online learning software to fulfill the requirements and facilitate their students into using these new tools. This represents a good opportunity for the development of e-learning software for use in universities and colleges in Pakistan. Our plan is to develop software similar to â€Å"Moodle† for use in universities. Industry and target market A few years ago, Pakistan had no framework for the use of technology in higher education. This meant that the country’s education standards and quality were not at par with the rest of world. Pakistan was unable to make any progress in the education sector until 1991. There were only 34 universities serving a population of over 100 million and from 1997 to 2002, only 10 private universities were added. However, the rapid growth of the education sector resulted in the establishment of 53 private institutions by 2004. There are currently more than 74 universities across the country (HEC, 2012). Product Description The software that will be offer to customers is similar to â€Å"Moodle,† which is the acronym for Modular Object-Oriented Dynamic Learning Environment. Moodle is an open-source course management system (CMS) / learning management system (LMS) / virtual leaning environment (VLE). It is used as a tool for creating online dynamic websites for students (Moodle 2013). Recent surveys show that it is considered as one of best e-learning software used by educators and is used by several primary and secondary schools in the UK (The Guardian, 2008). The software is customizable and there will be some modifications depending upon the circumstances and requirements of the clients. Using Moodle, the teacher can upload data form anywhere and student can access it instantly (The Guardian, 2008). Our aim is to introduce Moodle and to customize the software according to the needs of the higher education system in Pakistan. The software will allow tutors to manage their courses according to their requirements and students will be able to access available data from anywhere. University administration will also be able to upload news, results, and other related information using this software. There are various benefits in the application of the e-learning software in Pakistani universities. These include increase in availability of information, quick feedback, and better communication. The Moodle e-learning system provides users with an online platform for communication and sharing of content, information, and news. Communication – is the basic function of the Moodle e-learning software. Professors can post any course-related announcement for students. Students can chat with other students in real time. Discussion threads can be created. Students and teachers can participate in the discussion. Content – is the second core function of the software Teachers can post lectures, articles, assignments and other related information. Teaching calendar of the year can be included. Teachers can post quizzes and exams and allow students to access them via the internet. Students can submit their assignments online. Business Model A business model serves as a guide to help businesses create, deliver, capture and exchange value (Trott, 2005). There are main four components of a business model. Source: Trott, 2005 Core StrategyCore strategy is the first component of business model. It describes how a firm competes with its competitors. The core strategy involves customizing the software according to the needs of the organization and to set an optimum cost. Initially, we are targeting one university only, which is the Bahira University Islamabad. Other education institutions will be approached later on. Mission StatementOur mission is to provide excellent technology services to universities in Pakistan at the best cost. Product ScopeThe e-learning software will be developed by focusing on the needs and requirements of the clients. E-learning software is popularly used in UK schools. Teachers and students have given positive feedback on the use of e-learning software. We are expecting the same positive response from Pakistan’s education sector. Our focus is to develop the software based on some key points. Ease of use is one of the main objectives of the e-learning software. The product is new so we will ensure that it is easy to use and manage so that our clients will not have difficulty in using it. We will also ensure administrative flexibility so that they can manage it according to their needs. Our aim is to provide maximum value and optimize institutional investments to help them reduce their overhead costs and manage their finances better. We will also develop the software so that it is easily upgraded in the future should the client require changes. Basis for DifferentiationThere is currently no e-learning software in Pakistan, which is customized for the education sector and has excellent communication and content features. Most universities in Pakistan are using their websites for announcement and other news but they do not have a comprehensive software similar to Moodle. Our core differentiation is that we offer a customizable, flexible and easy to use software for the education sector. Strategic ResourcesFor the development of this software, we will hire the best software developer form Pakistan. The reasons for hiring the software developer from Pakistan are lower labor costs and familiarity with Pakistan’s education sector. This will help us to minimize our costs and be more efficient in our product development. Our strategic asset is our developers and our business plans. Technology Strategy The technology strategy is part the overall corporate strategy takes into consideration the components of the core strategy. In pharmaceutical firms and high tech equipment manufacturers, it is common for the technology strategy to be related to the corporate strategy. This concerns the management and use of technology for further expansion and development (Burgelman & Doz, 2001). Our core strategy is to focus on innovation and excellent services for our clients. Our goal is also to build reliable and flexible software that is cost effective and sustainable. The product we offer is based on Moodle. Although Moodle is already available in the market, we will develop a new e-learning software based on the Moodle framework. This new e-learning software will be customized to suit Pakistan’s education sector. Our basic strategy is to understand the client’s requirements and create products that will address all their needs. The service strategy provides guidance on how to design, develop, and implement our service management plans. We will provide not only the software to our clients, but also services such as installation, customization, and post-sales support. We will also provide trainings to teachers and administrative staff on how to upload data and use communication tools. Trainings will also be provided for university students who will be using the e-learning software. Financial Strategy The financial strategy is an important component of any business plan. Initially, we are going to finance our business using our personal savings and from investments of our family and friends. Our initial capital investment is ?3,000 to ?5,000. For future expansion plans, we will loan from a bank or other financial institutions. Partnership Networks We are going to start with one project, through the help of a partnership with a small software firm. This will help to minimize our development costs. The partnership contract will be based on profit sharing. The reason for entering into a partnership is to allow us to offer our products to other universities in the future. It is my responsibility to secure the contract from the university. It is my task to find out the requirements and needs of the university and to negotiate with them in terms of cost and other pertinent issues. Customer Interface Our target market is the Pakistani education sector. The main reason for targeting this market is the lack of educational software in Pakistan. Initially our target is one university, which will be Bahria University Islamabad. The motive for choosing this organization is the fact that some of our colleagues have studied there and are very familiar with the university. According to students of Bahria University, the administrative system that their university is currently using is not user friendly compared to other well-known universities in the Pakistan. As such, it will be a great idea to offer the new e-learning software to this university. To get the contract for developing this service, we will talk to the university’s management team. We will present them our product’s features and offer our services to them. Pricing Model We are new in the market and we want to compete with existing players. Our main focus is to attract a lot of customers and this can be achieved by making our products affordable. We are applying a cost leadership strategy. We will offer the best products at low cost to persuade customers to avail of our products. This is an ideal market entry strategy. maximum customers and for this out for going for cost leadership strategy. We will offer best low cost to facilitate our clients and make them comfortable to deal with us. Initially our motive is to adjust our self on low profit and gain market share. Conclusions Success of an organization depends on leaning, innovation, and constant change in a systematic and scientific way. Every organization will constantly have to acquire new knowledge to remain competitive. Change and uncertainty is managed by having a plan for the future. With a business plan, uncertainty ceases to be a threat and becomes an opportunity. Different models must be used to avoid uncertainty and risk. In entering a new market, we will use a business model to avoid uncertainty and carry out the innovation process in a manageable way. Being management student, we admire the importance of literature on technology management and new product innovation. On the basis of that literature and examples, we can conclude that if we ignore all those theories and models, product innovation will not be achieved. Our plan is based on the review of relevant literature and carried out through a business model. References Burgelman, R.A. and Doz, Y.L. (2001). The Power of Strategic Integration. MIT Sloan Management Review, 42(3), pp. 28-38. Cetindamar, D., Phaal,R. & Probert, D (2009). Understanding technology management as a dynamic capability: A framework for technology management activities. Technovation, 29(4), pp.237-246 Christoph Zott, Raphael Amit and Lorenzo Massa, Journal of Management published. Vol No. X online 2 May 2011 Pilkington, A. (2008 ). Engineering management or management of technologyA bibliometric study of IEEE TEM. International Journal of Management Science and Engineering Management. 3(1) pp. 63-70. Herrington, J., and Oliver, R. (2000). An instructional design framework for authentic learning environments. Educational Technology Research and Development, 48(3), 23-48. HEC, (2012) Higher Education Commission of Pakistan. Available at: http://hec.gov.pk/Pages/HECMain.aspx. Jaldemark, J., Lindberg, J. O., & Olofsson, A. D. (2005). Sharing the distance or a distance shared: Social and individual aspects of participation in ICT-supported distance-based teacher education. Challenging prospects. p. 142–160. Jack Kenny, (2008) Moodle takes lead in secondary, â€Å"The Guardian† Available at: http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2007/sep/18/link.link (Accessed: 30 March 2013). Khalil, T. M. (2000). Management of Technology: The Key to Competitiveness and Wealth Creation. Boston: 18th Edition, McGraw-Hill. Liu, J.J., Qian, J.Y. & Chen,J. (2006). Technological learning and firm level technological capability building: analytical framework and evidence from Chinese manufacturing firms. International Journal of Technology Management, vol.36, pp. 190-208, 2006. Levin, D.Z., & Barnard, H. (2008). Technology management routines that matter technology managers. International Journal of Technology Management, 41(1-2), pp.228-237. Mortar, L., Kerr, C. I. V., Phaal, R. & Probert, D.R. (2009). A toolbox of elements to build technology intelligence systems. International Journal of Technology Management, 47(4), pp. 322-345. NEFFICS, (2010 /11). Business Models and Business Model. Innovation in a Secure and Distributed Cloud Clustering (DISC) Society. p.58(1) , pp. 159-167. Pearson, A. (1991). Managing innovation: an uncertainty reduction process. in Henry, J. and Walker, D. (eds) Managing Innovation, Sage/Oxford University Press: London. p.18–27. Pilkington, A. & Teichert, T. (2006). Management of Technology: Themes, Concepts and Relationships. Technovation. 26(3), pp. 288-299. Trott, P. (2005). Innovation Management and New Product Development. 3rd Edition. Prentice Hall. Tidd, J., Bessant, J. and Pavitt, K. (2005). Managing Innovation. Integrating Technological, Market and Organizational Change. John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Globalization and Technology Essay

Friedman explains how 10 ingredients, he calls â€Å"flatteners† which has inadvertently brought about a new global business environment. The 1st flattener is the â€Å"Fall of the Berlin Wall†, where Friedman explains how on 11/09/89 the Berlin Wall came down and exposed the continents into one globalize trading world. Friedman explains about six months after the â€Å"Berlin Wall Falling† the â€Å"Windows Operating System† computer chip exploded and launched the beginning era of internet PC revolution. He calls this era â€Å"The Fall of The Walls and the Rise of The Windows†. Explaining how the â€Å"Wall† stood in the way of globalization. Six months after the Wall Fell the Windows Operating System 3.0 shifted and created a single graphical interface. The 2nd flattener was the date 08/09/95 having an immense impact which I believe is a milestone in the history of our technology growth and its repercussions was when Netscape, a internet b rowser (which is a drop box that is illustrated on computer screens giving a outburst of availability to the internet’s world wide web of information and created an open highway with no speed limits), went public. As Netscape became available to all people at their finger tips it played a key roll empowering individuals with massive amounts of information and helped commercialize and set open standards, equally facilitating all of the world’s people with virtually the same chance of opportunities for growth. This phenomenon is greatly indicative to the remaining of Thomas Friedman’s flatteners and their implications, good and bad, on human kind essentially defining what he meant with the statement: â€Å"The World Is Flat†. The Netscape browser brought the internet to life and gave us the .com boom creating a bubble of wild crazy investments which facilitated the fiber optic boom. Friedman explains how an overinvestment of 1 trillion dollars in five years into fiber optic cable inadvertently connected the world through the internet. Which lead us to the â€Å"Workflow Software†, the 3rd flattener where all the software programs and standards that connect PCs with ba nds of cable to allow work to flow, such as Microsoft Word. These events fountain a technology revolution, which virtually connected everyone’s application to everyone else’s application. Creating a new global platform where Friedman describes this era as a collaboration of platforms, flattening the world. This platform marks the end of a new beginning as Freidman describes â€Å"The Genesis Moment†. Freidman explains how this Genesis moment fueled a network connecting  Ã¢â‚¬Å"people to people†, â€Å"companies with companies†, â€Å"people with companies† and â€Å"more people with more different places† and so. Thus, starts the emergence of Freidman’s theory â€Å"The World Is Flat†. This new platform is based on a collaboration of the following six flatteners. Starting with the 4th flattener in which Friedman labels as â€Å"Outsourcing† was built around the â€Å"Y2K† fade. Outsourcing was the product of collaboration which allows departments of large companies to work out of State, and more so, to work out of our country. This collaboration aided companies to disaggregate a good proportion of their business processes and source it out to anywhere around the world at a lesser cost than it would have otherwise cost here in the US. Outsourcing gave way for companies to take advantage of high skilled laborers with low-cost wages, utilizing them as vehicles for companies to gain profits and develop an exponential boost of effective efficiency by tremendously improving their overall production and operations increasing profit margins. Although, many American companies probably did not stop to analyze the repercussions of their gains. The 5th flattener is â€Å"Off Shoring†, which is built around China joining the World Trade Organization. Off-shoring is taking an entire factory and physically moving it from the U.S. to a foreign country and integrating into global production operations. The 6th flattener is â€Å"Open-Sourcing† where the writing of â€Å"Linux† was created. Linux is a computer operating system program and is the biggest competitor’s to Microsoft’s operating system program. This new operating system â€Å"Linux† was created by a collaboration of computer sc ientists on the internet who demanded no money for their efforts allowing this free program to be downloaded by anyone who seeks it out. Linux is the biggest competitor to Microsoft whereby under cutting Microsoft, Friedman emphasis, how it would be hard to bet â€Å"zero†. â€Å"Supply Chain† is the 7th flattener which is built around Wal-Mart, as Freidman stated, represents the construction of a hyper-efficient, down to the last atom of efficiency global supply chain of operations. Wal-Mart successfully capitalized on MIT (management information technology). An example is where as you take an item off a Wal-Mart shelf in one city, that item will immediately be in production in China. Surprisingly, Wal-Mart doesn’t manufacture anything, but has successfully held itself as the biggest American retail company by innovation of a global supply chain to the last atom of efficiency. â€Å"In-Sourcing† is the 8th  flattener. UPS, an express package delivery service company capitalized on in-sourcing by taking over internal logistics of companies such as Toshiba. This way of business is not an e asy situation but can successfully be done by normal standardization company set-up where UPS will repair a broken item of Toshiba products. UPS virtually creates and operates a replication of Toshiba’s repair center. Toshiba agrees to pay UPS to operate this repair services for their customers in which UPS delivers the repaired product back to the original customer where Toshiba never touch their own products. The 9th flattener is where Friedman describes as â€Å"Informing† examples are Google, Yahoo, and Microsoft search engines. These informing tools allow you to collaborate yourself with unlimited amounts of data, information and resources. Informing is a way where we as individuals can collaborate ourselves with information. The 10th flattener is what Friedman calls â€Å"Steroids†. This is wireless technology, voice over the IP, and advances in computer microchips and storage capacity. He explains how Steroids basically turbo charge all nine of these new forms of collaboration and make it so you can now use anyone of these advances from anywhere through any device. These ten flatteners complement each other and converged into a single global web enabled platform. Without plan these events of convergence overlapped and complemented each other, working together with multiple forms, melting any world’s gaps and virtually bringing all people together closer than ever before. Friedman summarizes the flatteners by explaining how â€Å"three convergence of technology† makeup the 10 flatteners are as followed: †¢ 1st Convergence: Globalization 1.0: where the world changed from â€Å"Large? to Medium† and the agent of this global change were through countries. Globalization 2.0: where the world changed from â€Å"Medium? to Small† and the agent of this global change were through companies, markets and laborers. Globalization 3.0: where the world changed from â€Å"Small? to Tiny† and the agent of this global change were not countries or companies but individuals and small groups. Where individuals world wide, now have access and the ability to facilitate, embrace, and empower themselves individuality with any advancements they may desire. This global change has flattened the economic playing field geographically through time, distance and language providing the opportunities of capitalism and its byproduct is competition world wide for all people of the world. Essentially, this defines Thomas  Friedman’s meaning of â€Å"The World Is Flat†. †¢ 2nd Convergence: The need for adaptation of our new flat world habits where resources, rather it be natural or synthetic, are more evenly distributed among all living people of the world therefore resulting in a negative amount of resources allocated for each American’s average income level. Friedman tells a detailed personal story when he experienced the flatten world describing how he once lacked new information and therefore failed to take advantage of attaining his airplane flight boardin g pass the night before starting at 12:01am. Other passengers took advantage and utilized their resource tool of new technology where customer service provided by Southwest Airline’s internet we2 site. Even thought other passengers on the same airline flight as Thomas Friedman was able to receive their airline-boarding pass the night before the flight. Allowing the other passengers more free time before having to arrive at the airport and not having to stand in a waiting line. According the Friedman’s writing, we as Americans would have to learn to view the world from a different perspective, understanding and accepting competition will increase and we may get less for our dollar in the near future. Friedman called this process where people will have to horizontalize themselves. He explains when the world goes flat the value increasing is not created vertically, in single sections or companies, but is increasingly created horizontally by who is collaborated with what companies, inside and outside your company and/or companies you buy from as consumers. People having to horizontalize them selves and to think very different about how we collaborate within firms and with other firms in order to reach new value creation. An example is when computers became available to the average consumer and businesses, people had to adapt to a very different workplace and work habits in order to collaborate with the new technology. †¢ 3rd Convergence: Freidman states the last convergence is since all of this globalize collaboration been accruing there was a massive quite perfect storm was being created â€Å"3-billion† people who were out of the game walked onto the playing field of trade and consumerism from China, India and the former Soviet Union. Freidman recognizes that approximately only 5% of those three billion people can plug in and play after calculating the numbers it turns outs to 150 million people, which equal the size of the American workforce today. Freidman’s main argument of his book is the triple convergence of the ten  flatteners that are flattening the world, the convergence of a whole new way of doing business is much more horizontal rather vertical including three billio n new players. In general, Thomas Friedman finalized his argument by emphasizing â€Å"the world is flat and I’m here to tell you that everything we called IT revolution these last 20 years, was just the warm-up act that has been the sharpening and the distribution of the tools of collaboration. Now you are going to see several billion people increasing quickly learn how to use and apply those tools across a whole new range and forms of collaboration†. I agree with much of Friedman’s theories and the flatteners he chose to describe the extreme important impacts that affect our IT revolution world to at which the state it is in today. Freidman chose these events as milestone, where I would add emphasis on the importance of the sequential pattern of the flatteners’ events in which they transpired. Much through pure chance the sequence of events our technology growth and it processes just fell into action, rather for better or for worst, it was bound to happen. And if you ask most Americans if they think we should have not had the opportunity in attaining these advance technology leaps, I would prognosticate that most people would not forgo these gains for anything less regardless of the repercussions. I believe the most important flattener is 08/09/95 when Netscape went public because it opened an express highway of doors of opportunities with no speed limits, in my opinion, having one of the greatest technological improved impacts on human kind by immediately and direct changing our standard ways of living and increasingly potential capabilities. When Netscape became public it gave us a huge stepping-stone of advancement connecting the people of the entire world to each other. This change gave way for all of the other leaps of events to unfold without such a change Friedman’s other collaboration could not have taken place in the matter in which it did. This technology metamorphosis has allowed people to work from their homes, communicate to family members that are out of the country, and educate themselves with tons of information. I agree with Friedman in that â€Å"learning to love learning† are important elements missing from our culture’s view of education today. People must know that learning is never ending. There is always some skill or fact that is unknown that can be learned, but only if that person has a desire to learn. Even though children have the greatest opportunity to gain knowledge,  many children do not take advantage of it. They should realize that learning is constant and that educat ion is very powerful. Although I do not agree with Friedman in that â€Å"learning to love learning† is â€Å"most† important elements our society is missing from our culture’s view of education. I believe first and foremost public schools from 1st grade all the way to BA degree with in a university should be facilitated and paid for all American children with governmental taxes. National health care and wage insurance can help people survive while they are unemployed. Basically, we Americans should go back to the basics in that our society should enforce (good old fashion morals) basic conduct that reflects morals and respect utilizing integrity anything we do. The opposite is true in which we allow the media and forms of other public exposure to report stories with exaggerated facts and/or information that adversely affects our children’s view of themselves and everything around them. Should we go back to basic traditional teaching where in the beginning of child’s education building a strong foundation in our children’s life incorporating strong work ethics including a strong sense of pride in the all work and accomplishments attain. I believe if these foundations are bestowed within our children’s lives, the results will give them empowerment, enabling and encouraging our children in the right direction so that, when needed they can educate, empower, enable, and encourage themselves in becoming the most efficient individual collaboration. Understanding this way of life and incorporating these values within our daily lives utilization of fewer resources. Americans must acknowledge that we may have to learn to live with fewer luxuries and learn to be more conservative with natural resources but not necessary having to accept a weaker economy for the sake of it. There is a limited amount of natural resources available at any given time on earth and after these natural resources are evenly divided out per individual, the amount per individual is very small in size. Therefore, I do believe Americans should start adapting to new ways of living and consume fewer resources per individual. Many people may agree with my belief that Thomas Friedman failed to emphasis, what I call â€Å"individual re-shapers† where Americans should re-evaluate (re-shaping) their morals, integrity, honor and trust and try to incorporate these ideas within the intra-structure of American families, public schools, public facilities,  communities, cities, states, agencies, government, services, products and companies of the United States. If Americans would utilizes the same amount of time and investments, monetary and non-monetary, within our society moral values as whole and start new policies that will complement our global changes. These changes can initiate with my extremely important idea of â€Å"individual re-shapers† by developing and morally growing in a positive direction for the better good of all people around the world as a whole. Some â€Å"individual re-shapers† are technological advancements within public schools, which is essential for success and may have exponentially increasing our standard of living and helped improved most Americans everyday life by starting with our children. Another â€Å"individual re-shapers† is restricting the media to mislead or avoid the real truth of WORLD NEWS and not allow political groups or public positions and agencies to utilize law suites and avoid addressing real society moral problems of the American people. This can facilitate our country to be effective in a continuous society that morally develops at a rate parallel to the repercussions of technologies developments. The most important knowledge I have acquired from Thomas Friedman’s book â€Å"The World Is Flat† is the confirmation of my own personal beliefs as well as my personal career plans and professional development that incorporates and utilizes my code of honor and integrity in whatever I do in my life, rather it be a branch manager overseeing many employees, and/or a wife and mother (in which I believe is one of the hardest but important jobs a person can hold) raising children that reflecting the same, if not better, code of conduct in the ir life.

Culture And Heritage Of The World Is Born Into A Culture

Everybody in the world is born into a culture. We, as humans, adapt to this culture, and change it into our own. Even though we refine our culture to match our personalities, we still hold the values that we’ve learned originally from our culture and heritage. These values that we hold affects us in ways that some people don’t even realize. A person’s culture affects the way a person views the world and others to a great extent because culture shapes perspective. Perspective gained from culture affects the viewpoint of a person’s world and the people in it. Robert Lake, also known as Medicine Grizzlybear in his Indian tribes, was a concerned parent when his son, Wind-Wolf, was getting bullied and harassed by his classmates and their parents. To make matters worse, he was labeled by his teacher that he was a â€Å"slow learner† because he didn’t pick up on things as easily as his Western classmates. His father wrote a letter to his son’s teacher, that was later adapted as an essay, titled â€Å"An Indian Father’s Plea†. â€Å"So I realize he may be slow in grasping the methods and tools that you are now using in your classroom, ones quite familiar to his white peers, but I hope you will be patient with him. It takes time to adjust to a new cultural system and learn new things.†(Lake 77) In this small excerpt from the essay, it shows how Wind-Wolf’s father is trying to ask the teacher to help his son, and trying to change the teacher’s perspective on the situation. The teacher,Show MoreRelatedInterpreter Of Maladies Summary1084 Words   |  5 Pagesboundaries between people and cultures. Yet, despite this common definition, cultural assimilation can do just the opposite, bringing unfortunate division instead of homogeneity. In the short story collection Interpreter of Maladies, the author Jhumpa Lahiri ironically presents cultural assimilation as a cause of division through the perspectives of East Indians living in America. Specifically, she asserts that assimilation to a new culture can cause unfamiliarity with one’s heritage, division in one’s ownRead MoreHerritage Assesment1019 Words   |  5 PagesRunning head: Heritage Assessment Heritage Assessment Caridad Doucet Grand Canyon University: NRS-429V Family Centered Health Promotions Melva Bost RN, MS August 26, 2012 Heritage Assessment The United States has become a multicultural country. Everywhere you look, you see a plethora of cultures that range from Hispanic and African to Asian and American Indian. The varied traditions and beliefs of a multicultural country impact how nurses implement patient-centeredRead MoreCulture And Cultural Identity1068 Words   |  5 Pagescultural identity affect how they look at the world an other people? Cultural identity affects how someone looks at the world and how they look at others. The culture that someone creates for themselves determines how they look at the world and someone. Your childhood, lessons you learn throughout your life, and your cultural heritage all effect your culture and how you look at people and the world. There is also some people that are not affected by their culture only affected by their childhood and lessonsRead MoreWestern Theory Of Western Linear Development1295 Words   |  6 Pagesquiet deepens, and, in the way of a transient epoch—it passes. This thesis will place the western model in a focal position and explore its condition as it is made evident in the world heritage site of the Borobudur located in Central Java, Indonesia. It will furthermore contrast the monument-centric values of western heritage management with the cultural landscape as imagined in the JICA Plan, and delve into the colonialist past to trace the evolution and translation of imperialism into a modern archaeologicalRead MoreBless Me Ultima Character Analysis1039 Words   |  5 Pagesappears to be the embodiment of an entire generation of children that are born to traditional Mexican/Native families but raised in an ever so diverse United States. In a Q A with Rudolfo Anaya at the end of the novel he states, â€Å"my mother was a very religious person, much like Antonio’s mother in the novel. I grew up completely imbued with the Catholic cosmology. Later I discovered there are many religions in the world, many spiritual paths. These paths ar e part of our inheritance as Nuevos HispanosRead MoreLost Worlds986 Words   |  4 PagesChristie Appreciate Your Heritage Some Americans remember where they came from; others don’t. That’s the case in Daniel Chacon’s story â€Å"The Biggest City in the World†. It is a story about Harvey Gomez who is a Mexican American young man whose grandparents migrated to the Unites States from Mexico. Harvey has only been to Mexico once in his entire life and neither of his parents has ever been there before. Therefore he doesn’t know anything about his native culture or language. In this storyRead MoreRole of Youth in Enriching and Conserving Your Cultural Heritage1661 Words   |  7 PagesArticle On : Our Cultural Heritage !! March 24, 2012 By parm Leave a Comment inShare India Is A Unique Cultural Heritage !! A safe and secure society is needed for blossoming of arts and sciences. India has a rich cultural heritage. Though it has been subjected to a series of cultural invasions, yet it has retained its originality and traditional character even after absorbing the best of the external influences. India is the cradle of one of the earliest civilizations of the world – the Indus Valley CivilizationRead MoreSummary Of Outcast And From The Dark Tower1413 Words   |  6 Pageskilled without reason. Still, Black America refused to let the pressures of society silence the outcry, and thus the Harlem Renaissance was born. Outcast and From The Dark Tower both reference the aftermath of slavery and its effects on the Black community. However, Outcast focuses more on what the Black American has lost in his past and how this lost heritage has thus contributed to his present status in society, while From The Dark Tower prepares the future generations by questioning the Black man’sRead M oreOur Nursing Heritage Essay1039 Words   |  5 Pages(American Association of Colleges of Nursing [AACN], 2008,  ¶ 2). Using the Heritage Assessment Tool as a guideline I interviewed three families. The first was my own of Russian heritage, the second a colleague with a strong Chinese heritage, and the third a young single mother with a Hispanic heritage. These interviews gave me an insight into their views on health maintenance, protection and restoration. All three cultures had both similarities and differences. In the interviews with three culturallyRead MoreMy Family s Identity Has Been Formed Through Cultural Background993 Words   |  4 Pagesstrongly based on a Latino culture. Since the day I was born, my family’s heritage still remains alive. Aside from biologically obtaining the traditional Latino heritage, our family has also adopted a minimal of the American culture. It has been a struggle for my parents to keep intact with their norms, beliefs, and practices as they were raised in their home state. Although my siblings and I have become more tied with the American culture than our biological heritage, my mother and father have a

Essay on Christmas Shopping Chaos - 719 Words

nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Few events require as much skill and as much use of the five senses, or six if there is another sense (which can only give its possessor the upper hand at this highly competitive time), as Christmas shopping. Sight must be incorporated in the thrilling hunt for the perfect parking space, or in event of its absence, a parking space. Looking for empty spaces, cars leaving spaces, cars that will dart in front of other cars for a space, and gauging distance to dart in front of another car for a parking space. Also to be seen upon entering the shopping facility, usually a mall, are the large ornaments, lights, and other decorations reminding you of the season and why you are there. The crowds will be undeniably†¦show more content†¦Carrying a cell phone is smart in case someone is separated form the group, be sure to listen for the ring tone. Be prepared to hear a lot of really annoying ring tones from other cell phones. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Shopping trips like these tend to be lengthy, so a break should be taken to sit, eat, and consume vast amounts of caffeine by way of coffee or coffee like beverages. Leaving the mall and repeating the strenuous parking procedure is not recommended, making the food court and in mall restaurants the only options for sustenance. The food court offers dishes in varying tastes and textures, form crunchy taco shells to soft pizza crust. The warm rich flavor of coffee can alleviate stress and boost energy temporarily, however, this can leave a strange after taste in the mouth. Breath mints, or gum are a good remedy for this, especially if they have a mint of cinnamon taste. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;With so many people in one place, there are bound to be a lot of scents, some that will blend well, some that won’t. Inevitably, some of the gentlemen will apply too much cologne, and the ladies likewise with perfume. Such strong smells have a sick sweetness to them and can have a dizzying affect on the person inhaling them. Many of the stores will also smell of colognes and perfumes that they sell. Shops specializing in soap and body lotions will varying fruity smells that will beShow MoreRelatedPersuasive Essay On Christmas792 Words   |  4 Pages Around this time of year, it can be hard to get a good present for a friend or family member when you dont have enough money. Especially Christmas, you are expected to buy everyone in your family a present and it all adds up and it can get a bit pricey. But that cant stop you from finding a way to have something to give each other on Christmas morning. I am going to tell you how to pick out the perfec t present when your not looking to spend a lot of money. The first thing you want to doRead MoreThe City Of Orlando Is Divided Into 9 Districts Essay1158 Words   |  5 Pagesbusiness Saturday. Finally, Audubon Park was the 2016 Great American Mean Street Award winner. Ivanhoe Village celebrated its annual Sip and Stroll for the Small Business Saturday. They also had their annual Jingle Parade with Santa’s Village, Christmas Tree Lighting, and live performances. The district offers different memberships for their business and neighbors. Mills 50 offers a similar deal for their businesses. However, Ivanhoe Village offers more expensive deals with way more rewards thatRead MoreBranding And Its Effect On Society1567 Words   |  7 Pagescertain way and be this type of person. I don’t think any other type of advertisement could hit home and relate more to the idea of branding a product. Yet on the other hand, these branded advertisements give consumers direction. In Bernays Organized Chaos, it states â€Å"†¦if all men had to study for themselves the abstruse economic, political and ethical data involved in every question, they would find it impossible to come to a conclusion about anything† (Bernays, 11). Branding gives consumers choicesRead MoreThe Cure For New York City Agoraphobia1161 Words   |  5 Pagesfootball game when the UT football game was good.† Use this app to learn where to make a phone call without chaos around you, or just to hear yourself think—and here’s to hoping someone makes a mobile app that works across the country. 2. Avoid The Shopping Crowds This app is designed â€Å"to show you where all the cool people †¦ aren’t.† First built as an aid to busy Christmas shoppers, Avoid the Shopping Crowds logs tweets, Facebook posts and Foursquare check-ins to see where the people are so that you canRead MoreImportance of Family Dinners1367 Words   |  6 Pagesfamilies busier than ever, dinners offer a predictable routine and an opportunity for parents to monitor their childrens behavior. In the story The Best Christmas present Ever written by Warren Kliewer, we are transported to Uncle Petes farmhouse on Christmas day. Kliewers immediate and extended family is gathered there for a Christmas feast. The festivities began just after noon with the feast Ââ€" an enormous array of beans and corn and mashed potatoes and bread and rolls and relishes and pumpkinRead MoreBlack Friday Research Paper3205 Words   |  13 Pageswaiting in long lines with strangers. The New York Times says that Black Friday first got its name because it was originally thought that all retailers didn’t make a profit until the first Friday after Thanksgiving and the last day of the year. So by shopping actually does more good than some think. Wal-Mart is one of the biggest retailors that make extremely seducing deals for customers. This year 2012 first span of sale started at 8:00 p.m. it consisted of endless amount of video games that rangedRead MoreBlack Tuesday : Black Friday2509 Words   |  11 Pagesthe downward shopping period between July and August. This was the biggest time retailors saw the numbers, â€Å"in the red†. The Friday after Thanksgiving marked when retailors saw the profit go up, â€Å"in the black†; therefore, the term Black Friday arose. As Black Friday has progressed along with retailors marketing their products and their sales, it has become a national day of shopping to get the best deals. Americans mainly go shopping on this day to get huge deals for Christmas presents. StoresRead MoreBlack and Blue Friday Essay examples1899 Words   |  8 Pagesbargain hunter’s dream come true to a husband’s worst nightmare. Since the early to mid-sixties it was been given the name â€Å"Black Friday.† Black Friday is day where stores around the country open their doors early to welcome the start of the Christmas shopping season. This is the day if you get to the mall by five a.m., you are late and will not find a parking place. It is the same day where you start off by being cussed by a pregnant woman, and end by being beat-up by an elderly lady resemblingRead More The Black Friday Takeover Essay2565 Words   |  11 Pagesadvertisements in the media and holiday discount deals already visible on the shelves, it is no wonder that Black Friday and the holiday shopping season are creeping up closer and closer to Thanksgiving. Black Friday is a popular phrase used to describe the chaotic shopping frenzy that takes place every year on the Friday after Thanksgiving. In recent years, the chaos of this so-called â€Å"holiday† has only escalated; consumers are trampling one another to get the best deals, and retailers are scramblingRead MoreThe Sustainability Of The Activision Blizzard Corporation1857 Words   |  8 Pagesreleasing Warcraft: Orcs Humans for the PC becoming one of the most recognizable games in the PC gaming community, with the releases of Warcraft 2: Tides of Darkness (1995), Diablo (1996), StarCraft (1998), Diablo II (2000) and Warcraft 3: Reign of Chaos (2002) they became the most recognizable PC game developer in the U.S.. The release of World of Warcraft (2004), a massively multiplayer online role-playing game, cemented them as the #1 PC game developers. Supply and Demand As the industry continues

Teaching Philosophy Essays - 856 Words

Teaching Philosophy I take a completely humanistic view when it comes to educating children. I believe that Maslow was correct in his belief that people genuinely strive to reach the highest level of their capabilities. I also believe that everyone can reach his/her self-actualization if their lower hierarchy of needs are met first. I want to focus on three things: Maslows levels, how they affect children and educators, and what I feel is the best tool we can give our students before they head out into the world of independence. The first level of Maslows pyramid is basic physiological needs. I know that not every child will walk into my classroom having these needs fulfilled, and for me to expect them to gain much if†¦show more content†¦Phrases such as better carry a gun to class or better watch out for those kids in camouflage. these phrases dont make me afraid; they make me angry. If people would stop joking long enough to take classroom safety seriously, no child or teacher would feel threatened at school. I want myself included in my classroom community. I want everyone in that room to feel that they have someone else looking out for their care and safety. I will never give up on trying to make kids see beyond themselves to view the big picture. This does not have to be a dog eat dog, rat race world. If my goals of a true classroom community are reached, then I wont even have to work on Maslows third level of love and belongingness; it wont be a problem. Children have a keen sense of another childs self-esteem. They seem to have radar that can pick up on the weakest child in a classroom. A child that feels that he/she is not worthy of friendship or that he/she is a failure at all they do seem to send out signals that can be felt by the other students. Some children respond to that in a loving and protective manner. They are always the one rooting for the underdog. Most children, however, respond by picking on this child, taunting him until he cries, excluding him/her from group activities, and games, etc. It is the teachers responsibility to help set the acceptable standards of behavior in the classroom. Too many times I have seen teachers respond to these weakened children inShow MoreRelatedEssay on Teaching Philosophy Statement1037 Words   |  5 PagesTeaching Philosophy Statement â€Å"Teaching is not a profession; it’s a passion. Without passion for your subject and a desire for your students to learn and be the best in the world, then we have failed as a teacher and failure is not an option.† –John F. Podojil. In my opinion, this quotation is very true. If you do not have the passion to teach your students what is right in the world and what makes them be the best they can be, then you are not really teaching your students orRead More Teaching Philosophy Statement Essay922 Words   |  4 PagesTeaching Philosophy Statement Knowing that you have had an impact on someone and ending the day feeling like you changed just one life could be the best job in the world. To me those feelings and thoughts can only come from one profession-teaching. I have a family full of teachers and it is exciting to see them come home and have that satisfaction of influencing someone’s life. I want to be apart of that feeling and emotion. I have chosen the route to be a SpecialRead MorePersonal Statement Of Teaching Philosophy1254 Words   |  6 PagesStatement of Teaching Philosophy Stephanie Speicher, M.Ed. â€Å"I regard it as the foremost task of education to insure the survival of these qualities: an enterprising spirit, tenacity in pursuit, readiness for sensible self-denial, and above all compassion† Hahn, K. (1957, p.10). Outward bound. New York City: World Books. Foundation – The Sunrise I stood watching the sunrise on the final day of a weeklong backpack/rock climbing training with my college orientation program. The tears streamed downRead More Teaching Philosophy Statement Essay1192 Words   |  5 PagesTeaching Philosophy Statement In the movie The Matrix, Morphis says to Neo â€Å"I can only show you the door, I can’t open it for you.† The door that Morphis is talking about is this incredible vast knowledge that is unknown to Neo. What better person to show, to teach, to inform Neo than his teacher, Morphis. You see, I see myself as Morphis, the teacher, whenever I step into a classroom. As I look across the room, there isn’t just one â€Å"Neo†, but there are thirty or forty Neos. This is an extremeRead More My Philosophy of Teaching Essay598 Words   |  3 PagesMy Philosophy of Teaching Education is an important aspect in the lives of all individuals. From the day we are born until the day we die, we are constantly learning. At a very young age, children begin attending school. Throughout their educational career, children have many different teachers who hold many different views, beliefs, and values. Methods of instruction, personalities, and classroom interaction are all unique to the teacher. Some teachers may come in each day justRead MoreMy Original Teaching Philosophy Statement946 Words   |  4 PagesI honestly would not make any changes to my original teaching philosophy statement because I believe that after reading through the entire phycology book, the things I read only supported the things I stated in my philosophy statement. When writing my philosophy statement I had not taken any previous education classes to aid my original teaching philosophy but I have been working with kids my entire life and so I have seen first hand what things work with children and what does not. This does notRead MoreTeaching And Coaching As A Philosophy2275 Words   |  10 PagesA philosophy can be defined as ‘a set of values and behaviours that serve to guide the actions of a coach’ (Wilcox and Trudel, 1998, p.41). By drawing from all facets of a person’s life, each is specific to the learner and distinguishes teachers and coaches from one another. It can be consciously developed as the professional, teacher/coach and student within education is exposed to a practice as well as other life experiences. It is believed that ‘clearly articulating one’s philosophy is a prerequisiteRead MoreThe Statement Of Teaching Philosophy1775 Words   |  8 PagesMy Philosophy Introduction â€Å"The statement of teaching philosophy (also called the teaching statement or teaching philosophy statement) promotes reflective practice by encouraging instructors to describe their teaching methods, to justify why they use those methods, to analyze the effectiveness of those methods, and to consider how they might appropriately modify those methods in future courses.† (Schà ¶nwetter et al., 2002) Stake holder motivation, engagement, cognitive associations, and personalRead MorePlato s Teachings Of Philosophy1487 Words   |  6 Pagesdistinguished philosophers. Although Plato’s teachings are not universally agreed upon, virtually anyone can agree that that he was a brilliant thinker and spurred many thoughts and beliefs that are carried into today’s teachings of philosophy. While the precise relationship of Plato and Socrates remains a heated disagreement among scholars, Plato states that he was, in fact, a devoted follower of Socrates. Plato was highly influenced by Socrates’ teachings and highly disturbed by his execution, eventuallyRead More My Philosophy of Teaching Essay1025 Words   |  5 Pages My Philosophy of Teaching In the field of education there could arise many philosophical ideas of each individual teacher. Many of the past philosophies have been and still are used in today’s education programs, such as the Socratic method. My philosophy will also contain some of the many philosophies of the past and possibly the future. I will state the nature of students, the nature of knowledge, the purpose of public education, method, and curriculum according to my own philosophies

Set You Free by Gary Allan free essay sample

Gary Allan is one of country musics biggest stars. Set You Free is Allan’s first album after a hiatus of three years. The album is stellar through all twelve tracks. The album Set You Free tells the story of a person who has finally forgiven the events in his past and is able to move forward in life. The album’s title comes from a line in the album’s lead single, â€Å"Every Storm (Runs Out Of Rain).† â€Å"Every Storm (Runs Out Of Rain)† is a ballad that has touched many country fans. Fans were so intrigued by the song, it just became the fastest rising song of Allan’s career. The song is easily relatable to those who have experienced many downfalls in their lives. Gary performs the track with honesty, affirming that the bad will not last forever. It is the perfect way to start off an album. We will write a custom essay sample on Set You Free by Gary Allan or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page If country fans fell in love with â€Å"Every Storm† they will continue to love the rest of what Set You Free has to offer. The following song is my favorite. â€Å"Bones† describes a relationship at the very end. Allan almost triumphantly sings of a hole he has begun digging at first for himself, but then realizes that he might as well dig the hole for his girlfriend, which has caused him so much pain. Yes, the lyrics may tell a dark story, but Gary Allan portrays an upbeat attitude and makes the song fun and enjoyable to listen to. These are the types of songs radio likes to snatch up. The singer has a tendency to mix in a few songs about new love and how he takes it differently than relationships in the past on songs like â€Å"Drop.† For Allan’s past few albums, you can see a more somber side of the singer. This new record is proof that he is on his way to recovery from the past. He sounds more confident and front and center than ever before. This album is indeed a reflection, but more positive than anything. A look to the future and it finally seems like Allan has been set free from his demons. I commend Allan for releasing such a honest album. There is no holding back here. The album is some of Allan’s most consistent material in that he doesn’t try to tell so many different stories. The album has a solid theme that carries through. There is a little bit of everything for fans. At times, songs are melancholy and then they pick up and you experience a laid back classic country rock album. Edgy but sophisticated. This is pure Gary Allan.

Profile on Michael Lee Chin free essay sample

As a matter of fact, Jamaicans are known to excel in just about everything we do. In my opinion, the epitome of Jamaican excellence in entrepreneurism is none other than Mr. Michael Lee- Chin. Michael Lee-Chin, Chairman, Portland Holdings Inc is regarded as a visionary entrepreneur whose philosophy of â€Å"doing well and doing good† as resulted in phenomenal and inspiring philanthropic initiatives. The eldest of nine children, Lee- Chin was born in rural Port Antonio, Jamaica in 1951. He came from a biracial parentage; his mom was a Chinese Jamaica and his father a Black Jamaican. His mother sold Avon products, and worked as a bookkeeper for various local firms, while his stepfather ran a local grocery store. Lee-Chin attended the local high school, Titchfield High, between 1962 and 1969. Lee-Chin acquired his first job in 1965 working as part of the landscaping team at the Frenchmans Cove Hotel. In 1966 he got a summer job working on the Jamaica Queen cruise ship, cleaning the engine room. We will write a custom essay sample on Profile on Michael Lee Chin or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page In 1971 he was able to obtain a scholarship sponsored by the Jamaican Government tofinish study Civil Engineering at McMaster University. After beginning post-graduate studies, Michael decided to explore career opportunities within the mutual fund industry (Portland Holding Inc, 2007). In 1977, he was motivated to start his own business when a friend told him about a shortcut to riches called mutual funds. Lee-Chin dropped his business studies, quit his job as a bouncer and took a one-week course in suburban Toronto with a mutual-fund company called Investors Group. In the first month when he started, he made $10,000. He figured that if it was so easy to sell mutual funds, then mutual-fund companies were the place to invest. In 1983, Lee-Chin secured a loan from the Continental Bank of Canada for CAD$500,000 to purchase a stake in Mackenzie Financial Group. After four years, this stock appreciated seven-fold, and Michael used the profits to make his first acquisition, a small Ontario-based investment firm called AIC Limited (Portland Holding Inc, 2007). Lee-Chin also set up the Berkshire group of companies, comprising of an investment planning arm, a securities dealership and an insurance operation. In Lee-Chin’s successful years he also received many awards such as Entrepreneur of the Year Award in the Services Category which was presented by Ernst amp; Young, Canadian Business, Bank of Montreal, Nesbitt Burns, McCarthy Tetrault, and Air Canada; Doctor of Laws Degree Honoris Causa; 2004 International Humanitarian Award presented by the American Friends of Jamaica Inc. n New York; named Outstanding Philanthropist of the Year by the Association of Fundraising Professionals (Toronto Chapter); Honorary Doctor of Laws Degree from University of Toronto; Lifetime Achievement Award from the Canadian Youth Business Foundation for his outstanding contributions to Canada’s entrepreneurial spirit; honorary Doctor of Laws Degree from Wilfrid Laurier University; an honorary Doctor of Laws Degree from the University of the West Indies; the Order of Jamaica – one of the country’s highest national honours, for his significant contributions to business and philanthropy; an honorary Doctor of Laws Degree from York University; Luminary Award from the University of the West Indies and in 2011 he receives the McMaster University Distinguished Alumni Award for the Arts. Michael Lee-Chin is always giving back to the community; in 2001 he donated $5 million to McMaster University which is used to establish the AIC Institute of Strategic Business Studies at the Michael G. DeGroote School of Business. Michael pledged $30 million to Royal Ontario Museum’s Renaissance ROM Campaign. In 2004 he donated $10 million to the Campaign for the University of Toronto which is used to establish the AIC Institute for Leadership at the Joseph L. Rotman School of Management. Michael donates almost $4 million to Northern Caribbean University to build a world class nursing school – the Hyacinth Chen School of Nursing in honour of his mother. The state of the art facility accommodates 800 nursing students. In 2002, Portland’s interests expanded internationally with the acquisition of National Commercial Bank (NCB) Jamaica Ltd. and its subsidiaries. Since becoming part of the Portland group, NCB profits have increased to approximately US$100 million from US$6 million (Portland Holding Inc, 2007). NCB today stands as Jamaica’s largest bank with 45 branches, 2,400 employees, and offices in the Caymans and the United Kingdom. NCB was awarded the Latin Finance 2007 Bank of the Year Award (Portland Holding Inc, 2007). In April 2006, Portland Holding Inc. acquired an 85% controlling stake in the United General Insurance Company, the largest auto insurer in Jamaica, and renamed the firm Advantage General Insurance Company (Portland Holding Inc, 2007). A controlling interest in CVM Communications Group (consisting of radio and television stations and newspapers) was purchased at the same time. In the tourism sector, Michael Lee-Chin has guided Portland Inc. through a number of acquisitions in the Caribbean (Portland Holding Inc, 2007). Among them: the Trident Villas and Spa in Jamaica, Reggae Beach and Blue Lagoon. The first Portland acquisition in the health care industry sector was announced by Lee Chin in July 2006, when Medical Associates Limited, a privately held hospital in Kingston, Jamaica, joined the Portland group (Portland Holding Inc, 2007). Lee-Chin is separated from his wife of 23 years, Vera Lee-Chin who he married in 1974, with whom he has three children. He presently lives with Sonya Hamilton and their twin daughters in Hamilton, Ontario. . Conclusion Michael Lee-Chin was not born in riches, he had to fund his self through College. In my opinion Michael Lee-Chin is a self-determined entrepreneur. We see this when he was prompted to use his savings to fly back to Jamaica and convince then Prime Minister Hugh Shearer to sponsor his Canadian education. Through his own determination and the willingness of the Jamaican Government to invest in the future of one its young people, Lee-Chin was able to return to McMaster University after securing a C$15,000 scholarship to pay for his education. Michael Lee-Chin was not going to give up on his goals and he was determined to finish school and live his dream. Michael Lee-Chin journey was not an easy road. When he returned to Toronto with his wife he had to work as a bar bouncer to pay his bills. During his time as a bouncer, he was fortunate to meet a mutual fund salesman from the Investor’s Group, who advised him about the earnings potential of being a mutual fund salesman. Mr. lee-Chin applied to the Investor’s Group and this move changed his life forever. In the first month he started he made CAD$10,000. His determination to be a successful entrepreneur was shown here and also his motto â€Å"Buy, hold and prosper†. In 1983, the year when he decided to fulfill his dream, Mr. Lee-Chin secured a C$500,000 loan from the Continental Bank of Canada and invested it into the Mackenzie Financial Group at C$1. 00 per share. In 5 years, that investment became worth C$3. Million. This was a huge decision to make but a successful entrepreneur normally takes big risk. This newfound wealth allows Lee-Chin to establish a lot of companies including National Commercial Bank. Mr. Lee-Chin is also a generous philanthropist. He has made a lot of donations to many institu tions as mentioned above. He continues to invest heavily in Jamaica and in other Caribbean Islands, buying assets from real estate to communications infrastructure. Michael Lee-Chin is someone that I respect and look up to and hope to have the privilege to meet him one day. He exemplifies hard work and the sense of â€Å"never forgetting where you come from. With the challenges that Michael Lee-Chin faced, I see myself facing similar challenges. I am a very determine person, so I will ensure that whatever obstacles are in my way I will kick them to the curb. At this moment I want to start my own business but I am not a risk taker like Michael Lee-Chin so I am waiting on the right opportunity to go to my investors to market my services. I need to be more of a risk taker. I admire Michael Lee-Chin and reading about him motivates me to start my own business. In concluding, do I think entrepreneurship is for me? I am 100% sure that I want to be an entrepreneur.