Carrs Argument in Vital Paths - 1823 Words

Spencer Woo Professor Losh Cat 1 6 November 2012 Carrs Argument in Vital Paths I. Introduction Vital Paths is the title of the second chapter in Nicolas G. Carrs book, The Shallows. This chapter continues Carrs argument, posed in chapter one, in highlighting the dangers of the internet, regarding our cognitive abilities. Specifically on format, this chapter argues for our brains neurological flexibility through an array of examples, ranging from historical observations to scientific experiments, and ends cautioning that with malleability negative neurological effects are plausible. Carr introduces the argument for neurological flexibility with the tangible effects noted by Nietzsche, where the use of the mechanical typewriter†¦show more content†¦In Eric Kandels Aplysia experiment, Kandel showed that a slug lost sensitivity in its gills, after repeated contact to which Carr states the brain...change[s] with experience, circumstance, and need. Both, Kandels and Merzenichs, experiments lead to the same conclusion of the physical body adapting in real-time to the environment. Carr briefly writes how a man named Bernstein regained movement in his hand and leg after damaging his brain which regulated movement and how through the use of technology analyzing neural activity, Carr tells how violinists had increased cortical areas of their right hand compared to nonmusicians, and compared to their own left cortical areas. Carrs final example for the brains plasticity is with Pascual-Leones experiment. Pascual-Leone mapped the brain activity of a group of people playing certain notes on a piano, and a group imagining themselves playing the notes. He concluded that their brains had both changed in response to the experiment, both in playing, and imagining playing. Pascual-Leones work showed that the human brain can change itself neurologically without physical activity. Carr summarizes, We become, neurologically, what we think. Carr asserts through these scientific experiments that not only were Freu d, J.Z. Young, and William James, correct , but the adult brain...is not just plastic but...massively plastic. CarrShow MoreRelatedOcd - Symptoms, Causes, Treatment131367 Words   |  526 Pages(1976) cognitive theory of emotional disorders. From these two theoretical perspectives on clinical disorders, a new cognitive-behavioral approach to obsessions and compulsions was born. In many respects, my own professional development has taken a path similar to that seen in cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) for obsessional states. My roots are in the behavioral tradition, dating back to the early 1980s when I was a graduate student at the Institute of Psychiatry in London, England. My interest

Leadership in Organisation Assignment Example

Essays on Leadership in Organisation Assignment The paper "Leadership in Organisation" is a worthy example of an assignment on marketing. Workforce planning is selecting and recruiting the correct person because organizations while looking to hire employees have to ensure that the workforce matches the job requirements. This means choosing the correct employee for the job and only hiring employees without matching the job requirements will not provide the required return the business is looking at. In this competitive world, specialized services have become imperative which makes it important that organizations hire employees based on the job requirements and not merely look to hire employees (Engleberg Wynn, 2002). Organizations while hiring employees look at the long term perspective and look towards building employees for higher positions in the organization. This requires knowledge and skills in the respective field which thereby increases the role of workforce planning in ensuring that employees hired are as per the requirem ents and will help the business in the long run (Clunies, 2007).An example in this direction is banks. Banks have to ensure that the workforce requirement matches the growth in the business. Since they work in the service sector it is imperative to provide high-quality service to retain customers. This makes it important that the banks start to look for prospective employees both within and outside the organization. The workforce should be such that they are capable of handling the different task entrusted upon them and understands the objectives of the organization (Engleberg Wynn, 2002). Since it is a specialized service the bank should impart training both on and off the job. Care should also be taken to have employees as per the requirements and special efforts should be made while designing the job so that employees who are selected match the job criteria. This will help to ensure correct employees for the correct job and using the in house employees will ensure that the emplo yees are motivated and work towards a common goal.This increases the importance of ensuring that the correct person is hired as recruiting a wrong person for the job will result in selecting a candidate that cannot do justice for the job. This will make the organization suffer as the required workforce will be unable to deliver quality service (Derr, 2002). This increases the importance of national demographics as it helps to understand the workforce constituent and based on it the organization can look towards recruiting the correct talent so that the business is able to achieve its objectives. The national demographics provide organization information relating to the educational skills which are helping the organization tap the correct sources and get the best manpower. This also helps the organization to understand the changes their business needs to undergo which helps to determine the training required and ensure the workforce according to the changing scenario.

Rationale and Methodology Free Essays

The biblical account of the battle between David and Goliath is a story which offers inexhaustible life-lessons. For instance, when seen within the context of problem solving, one can put on the shoes David and say, â€Å"Goliath is so big, I don’t stand a chance†, or â€Å"Goliath is so big, I can’t miss. † Suffice it to say that these perspectives sufficiently determine whether one ends up as triumphant or looser in life. We will write a custom essay sample on Rationale and Methodology or any similar topic only for you Order Now This paper presents an analysis of the rigors involved in ensuring the continued presence and progressive expansion of BAE Systems in Kava, an island in the South Pacific which, by right of analogy, is one humungous Goliath both literally and figuratively. As such, this paper is not so much concerned with providing concrete alternatives as prospective solutions in view of the aforesaid goal, as this is more an attempt to firstly identify the issues and problems that the company presently faces. It is also to be expected that the norms governing critical thinking shall be employed herein in as many instances as possible. Circumscribing Goliath: Challenges and Opportunities in Kava Alex’s candid but straightforward assessment of the conditions in Kava clearly states the need for a lot of brainstorming. As in the case for most strategic planning, one sits on a problem with thoughtful consideration to determine all contributing causes in order to address them with correct solutions. Simply put, to solve a problem means to first identify it, give it a name, determine its enormity, measure its impact, and even anticipate its damage. In fact, the rules governing scientific investigation (and even correct logic for that matter) also suggest the same thing. Solving problems, it maintains, â€Å"begins when (one) is confronted with something that appears to need explanation† (Copi and Cohen, p. 552). Unless one is willing to take time in studying the intricate details of the problem, one is most likely to ‘miss’ the target in the process. Besides, most psychologists have noted that â€Å"most people’s spontaneous and intuitive approaches to problems† end up â€Å"frequently wrong† (Halpern, 1996, p. 6). Taking time to map subsequent courses of action truly starts with going into the problem with much thought and consideration. After all, having a â€Å"well defined† or â€Å"ill-defined† problem determines the success rate of anyone who tries to get into the bottom of a given crisis (Halpern, 1996, p. 317) The first task in slaying the Kava-Goliath therefore lies in this: circumscribe it. On the one hand, one can look at Kava with eyes fixed on the challenges it poses; i. e. , one needs to isolate the problems (Sofranac, 2006). First, the problem of geography. Kava is an island; and most likely, its being separated from mainland economies can mean that transporting goods to and from the place will be more costly than doing business in an easily accessible land. Not only would it mean higher budgetary allocation for transport of BAE Systems goods, it can also spell delays and – in times of typhoons, tornadoes or volcanic eruption – suspension of business all together. Second, the problem of demography and its influence on Kava’s economy. It was said that nearly 50% of the island’s population are 15 years and below. If one were to translate it in economic transcripts, it would be safe to assume that only 40% of the population, or less, are working to fuel the economy. A portion, say 5-10% of the population must be regarded as incapacitated and/or elderly. Thus, the younger composition of Kava’s demography means that its economy more consumptive than productive. This does not yet consider the state of health of the working populace. In an island – contained as it were – where HIV or Avian flu is reported, the rate of business expansion is most likely to be affected by the workforce either suffering from, or fearing the spread of the diseases thereof. Third, on the viability of return investment for BAE. There is a need to consider the nature of the business the BAE Systems is engaged with, in relation to the needs of the island. These factors properly determine the health of the supply and demand market which BAE needs to handle. It must be noted well that BAE supplies products which are not so much accessible to, or are needed by general public consumers. BAE Systems deliver products which include, but not limited to communication and identification devices, â€Å"navigation and warfare solutions†, warfare systems, fighters and missiles, â€Å"countermeasure for both military and commercial aircraft†, among others (Wikipedia). On the other hand, one may also need to look at Kava with eyes fixed on opportunities; i. e. , one needs to also explore alternatives (Sofronac, 2006). While Kava may be an island full of challenging conditions for the company, it is not an utterly hopeless place to conduct business with. One should also consider that its economy is driven by production of Petroleum, a lucrative and profit generating business to say the least. Surely, this type of business needs to protect itself from threats of terrorism, which the country is not unfamiliar with. Second, one should consider too the cheap but quality cost of labor throughout the island. It is something that the company can capitalize from, in order to create an excellent workforce for the company. One may also explore the cheaper operation costs for the company as the island seems to produce an array of crop-produces for its own consumption. Preliminary Recommendation: First things first To be sure, the process of formulating problems does not end up with the identification of forces involved only. There is a need to further classify them. At the very least, one needs to see which problems are urgent – and therefore needs immediate attention – as against which ones need long term attention due to complexity. The continued presence of BAE in Kava demands that it first focus on squaring with the urgent problems at hand: the high cost of having to weather geographical and environmental difficulties, the equally costly transport of goods and services (because it is an island), the need to establish cheap but competent workforce, and the tall prospect of having the business survive the supply-demand market. Since in most decision making process, one would find being confronted with a multitude of goals given a limited number of resources (Betsch and Haberstroh, 2004, p. 1), ensuring that these aforementioned priorities are first met will be fundamental l to the achievement of such goal BAE sets. Critical thinking dictates that in a decision making process, â€Å"maximizing payoffs and minimizing risks† is a rule of prime importance (Betsch and Haberstroh, 2004, p. 1). While there are other smaller, but legitimate concerns to address – such as logistics, difference in time frame, re-supply issues, among others – contemplating seriously on solving the most fundamental concerns pertinent to doing business is an essential ingredient to savoring success. References Betsch, T. and Haberstroh, S, eds. (2004). The Routines of Decision Making. New Jersey: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates. Copi, I. and Cohen, C. Introduction to Logic (Tenth Edition). Prentice Hall International Editions. Halpern, D. (1996). Thought and Knowledge: An Introduction to Critical Thinking. New Jersey: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates. Sofronac, R. (2006). Preparing Business Scenario Analyses. University of Phoenix: Unpublished Reprinted with permission. www. wikipedia. com. Retrieved 09 June 2008. How to cite Rationale and Methodology, Papers