Humanism and the Renaissance + Protestant Reformation Essay Example for Free

Humanism and the Renaissance + Protestant Reformation Essay The later Middle Ages is characterized as a time of great transition and advancement, especially pertaining to areas of politics, economics, art and intellect. A new trend towards the pursuit of new knowledge and ideas first emerged in fifteenth century Renaissance Italy. This new area of intellect marks the emergence of humanism, which essentially came to be the defining characteristic leading up to the Scientific Revolution in the eighteenth century. The Protestant Reformation can be seen as the second catalyst to the Scientific Revolution, which occurred around the turn of the fifteenth century. It was the combination of the expansion of humanism first witnessed during the Renaissance creating the desire for knowledge, greater meaning and ultimate truths, with the power gained on part of the individual during the Protestant Reformation allowing for the pursuit of these new questions and ideas which, at the time, opposed existing knowledge that was universally accepted to be true; this combination ultimately culminated in the methods, principles, knowledge and foundations realized during the Scientific Revolution. The Renaissance is a seen a distinct period of time emerging in the beginning of the fifteenth century, immediately following what is now termed the Middle Ages. First manifesting itself in Italy, it is considered â€Å"a period which witnessed transition from the medieval to the modern age, that is to say, the latter part of the fifteenth and the beginning of the sixteenth century† (Bishop, 130).[i] Renaissance literally means â€Å"rebirth,† referring to the rebirth of antiquity, or Greco-Roman civilization. Prior to this, â€Å"the advanced knowledge of the natural world possessed by the ancient Greeks meant little to the Romans, and for a long time that knowledge went into decline,† – this is, until now (Henry, 557).[ii] Many aspects of life were greatly impacted, including areas of politics, economics, art and intellect. This new outlook sparked the initiation of a movement toward greater education. Education was seen as the key to living a prosperous and fulfilled life. In particular, the importance of liberal studies was widely agreed upon. Several key events during this time allowed for the spread of knowledge, creating the â€Å"beckoning toward wider horizons† (Buttimer, 11).[iii] For example, the invention of the printing press encouraged the printing of books, which culminated in scholarly research. Additionally, there was a greater availability to the lay people than ever before; previously, there was simply no access to such information. A historian describes this occurrence: â€Å"alien tongues and races have been drawn together, and have learned once again to understand each other’s speech, and to enter into each other’s thought† (Bishop, 131).[iv] Intellect and education began bringing people together who otherwise would not have ever circulated his or her new ideas and thoughts. Some individuals in particular are credited with the fact that â€Å"the reforms enacted were substantial. At an increasing number of Northern universities, Greek became a regular subject and specialists were hired to teach it. Old Textbooks †¦ were abandoned after having been used for centuries and were replaced with products of humanism† (Nauert, 429).[v] Among the individuals most recognized for their impact on this time in history exists Desiderius Erasmus. Inarguably, Erasmus can be seen as a perfect demonstration of a humanist. â€Å"Erasmus was before all else a scholar and a humanist. He was filled with a genuine enthusiasm for learning† (Bishop, 137).[vi] It was this motivated spirit that drove the culmination of the humanistic movement. Intellect and scholarly research was greatly dedicated to religion. Erasmus â€Å"insisted that the dialectic method of the academic theologians had produced a theological science that concentrated on trivial, abstruse questions of little or no real value to the needs of the church† (Nauert, 431).[vii] This argument became the basis for much of Erasmus’ highly esteemed, accredited work; he was â€Å"determined to defend [his] status as orthodox Catholic† (Nauert, 431).[viii] Soon, modern humanists greatest opposition was the church. Many criticized Erasmus, believing that he â€Å"lacked theological training and hence had neither a legal nor an intellectual right to speak and publish on questions involving theology and the Bible† (Nauert, 431).[ix] Until this point in my discussion thus far, not much opposition has been mentioned. It is very important and essential to note that this new topic of new knowledge created extreme amounts of tension, ultimately culminating in the Protestant Reformation. At the same as scholars such as Erasmus, Bacon and Galileo emerged, â€Å"scholastic theologians arrogantly sat back and issued condemnations,† which greatly hindered the advancement of intellect (Nauert, 431).[x] Clearly established thus far was the recently renewed desire for new knowledge; in response, many new education establishments received great support and ideas began to circulate. In order for the continuing and pursuit of the ever evolving goals of humanists, there needed to be some change that would allow for this. This is one contributing factor to Erasmus’ dedication to reforming the church. Conflicts among humanists and scholars â€Å"reflect[ed] a disharmony that is fundamental,† and furthermore came to define â€Å"the dispute over academic competency and ‘exacerbation of the debate during the Reformation’ as the two forces† behind the matter (Nauert, 432).[xi] By this point in time it was seen as a necessity that religion be transformed. Among several attempts throughout history, â€Å"the Protestant Reformation is the only attempt that was successfully institutionalized† (Bellah, 369).[xii] So much work thus far had been the foundational truth: â€Å"scholastic philosophers and theologians spent long years acquiring the skills of dialectical argumentation and familiarity with the opinions of the past authorities, both ancient and medieval† (Nauert, 433).[xiii] It would take great influence to override these criticisms, but Erasmus laid the foundation for Martin Luther. â€Å"Erasmus’ pains were those of a delicate body and a sensitive and intellectual mind, amid surrounds which were uncongenial and indeed fatal to any humane culture† (Bishop, 135).[xiv] Whereas this was so, â€Å"Luther’s misery arose from the pains and travail of his moral nature in his endeavor to find peace with God† (Bishop, 135).[xv] For, it was â€Å"out of these throes of conscience a great religious movement was to be born† (Bishop, 135).[xvi] It was the combination of the significant influence witnessed having been imparted by Erasmus and Martin Luther that finally instigated the long time coming Protestant Reformation. The Protestant Reformation was the main event occurring during the Renaissance that allowed for the institutionalizing of knowledge and new ways of obtaining and exploring it. The defining characteristic concerning the Protestant Reformation is â€Å"the collapse of the hierarchical structuring of both this and the other world† (Bellah, 368).[xvii] It was the leadership of modern intellectuals, or humanists, such as Erasmus and Luther that proved to be a catalyst to the movement: â€Å"Luther by a spiritual declaration of independence in which he boldly cast off, once and forever the ecclesiastical authority of Rome† (Bellah, 370).[xviii] It was the consistency marked by the motivation of the ever evolving humanists, with the newly found sense of confidence toward the ability to influence society that culminated in the beginnings of the Scientific Revolution. â€Å"During the late Middle Ages ,the application of natural philosophy logic to theology transformed it into an analytic discipline. The extraordinary nature of this transformation is manifested when we see the kinds of questions that were routinely discussed in the average theological treatise.†[xix] The humanists’ demands for answers and unceasing attitudes at the time finally paid off. Prior to the Protestant Revolution, the many attempts of humanists to voice their opinion and freely explore their new interests without having to fear the authorities. Historians have â€Å"emphasized human attitudes and values† in this fight for intellectual freedom† (Buttimer, 5).[xx] The Protestant Reformation as a continuation of the beginnings of the humanism movement paved the way for the Scientific Revolution. â€Å"Before science could have reached the stage it did in the seventeenth century, there had to be a widespread use of reason and reasoned analysis. The medieval universities supplied the intellectual context for all of Western Europe. They developed a new approach to nature† (Grant, 420).[xxi] The new religious organization allowed for intellectuals and humanists of the time to truly pursue their ideas that were in opposition to previously existing knowledge that had been universally accepted as being true. Overall this culmination of the split between Church and State, the power granted to the individual due to the Protestant Reformation, and the defining characteristics of humanism during the Renaissance were the leading factors in the birth of the Scientific Revolution. Intellectuals in the seventeenth century soon came to view the world and universe as never before. For example, it was now known that rather than existing in an earth-centered universe, they were in fact living in a sun-centered universe. Famous figures in history existing at this time continued the already established tradition, and were able to impart great influence. These figures include, but are not limited to, Galileo, Francis Bacon, Rene Descartes, and Isaac Newton. There emerged a shift from thinking the abstract, such subjects that previous philosophers had once been dedicated to, to pondering and experimenting the physical world around them. Prior to this time, Aristotle, Galen and Ptolemy were relied on for foundations concerning the fields of physics, medicine, and astronomy. Just as there were certain individuals and movements that laid the foundations previously, there are also those researchers who were responsible for the carrying on of life into the Scientific Revolution. â€Å"It remained for Galileo, however, to apply the mean speed theorem to the motion of real falling bodies and to devise and experiment to determine if bodies really fall with uniform acceleration. Thus began the new science of mechanics and the beginnings of modern physics† (Grant, 421).[xxii] Before Galileo was even able to begin his investigations concerning the previous, it was essential that the events and transformations during the fifteenth to sixteenth centuries occurred. More modern discoveries attributed to the seventeenth century and furthermore during the Enlightenment, would have been seriously delayed had this transformation not occurred. People were finally granted the power, and discovered a new found sense of confidence when it came to the pursuit of new kn owledge and ideas. If it had not been for this fight, individuals like Galileo would have had this job to do themselves. It is important to note that the culmination of the Scientific Revolution did â€Å"originate with the great scientific minds of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, from the likes of Copernicus, Galileo, Kepler, and Newton† (Grant, 421).[xxiii] Furthermore, this historian in particular states that â€Å"although it is possible to insist that the full-blown concept of intertia did not appear before Newton, there can be no denying that Galileo, Pierre Gassendi, and Descartes played a role in opposing the Aristotelian concept that everything that moves must be continuously moved by something else and in suggesting instead that once something was moving perhaps it might simply carry on moving until something else stopped it† (Henry, 554).[xxiv] Several important foundations for the study of nature, and in general life at its core, were products of the Renaissance, Protestant Reformation, and ultimately the Scientific Revolution. If it were not for the perseverance of humanists, and their sense of devotion, the advancements included in the Scientific Revolution may have not come for some time down the road. One of the most important outcomes that is still used as a basis today for scientific experimentation is the scientific method. â€Å"The scientific method is such that, whatever the weaknesses of human endeavor, scientific truths will steadily emerge and will come to be recognized and established as a matter of inevitability† (Henry, 555).[xxv] In a way, Henry’s definition of the scientific method can be seen as already applying to the transformation that created it. ENDNOTES: [i] Bishop, W. S. B. (1906). The sewanee review. Erasmus,14(2), 129-148. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/27530759 [ii] Henry, J. H. (2008). Isis. Ideology, Inevitability, and the Scientific Revolution, 99(3), 552-559. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/10.1086/591713 [iii] â€Å"Geography, Humanism, and Global Concern.† Anne Buttimer. Annals of the Association of American Geographers , Vol. 80, No. 1 (Mar., 1990), pp. 1-33. [iv] Bishop, W. S. B. (1906). The Sewanee review. Erasmus,14(2), 129-148. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/27530759 [v] Nauert, C. G. N. (1998). The sixteenth century journal.Humanism as Method: Roots of Conflict with the Scholastics , 29(2), 427-438. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/2544524 . [vi] Bishop, W. S. B. (1906). The Sewanee review. Erasmus,14(2), 129-148. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/27530759 [vii] Nauert, C. G. N. (1998). The sixteenth century journal.Humanism as Method: Roots of Conflict with the Scholastics , 29(2), 427-438. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/2544524 . [viii] Nauert, C. G. N. (1998). The sixteenth century journal.Humanism as Method: Roots of Conflict with the Scholastics , 29(2), 427-438. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/2544524 [ix] Nauert, C. G. N. (1998). The sixteenth century journal.Humanism as Method: Roots of Conflict with the Scholastics , 29(2), 427-438. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/2544524 [x] Nauert, C. G. N. (1998). The sixteenth century journal.Humanism as Method: Roots of Conflict with the Scholastics , 29(2), 427-438. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/2544524 [xi] Nauert, C. G. N. (1998). The sixteenth century journal.Humanism as Method: Roots of Conflict with the Scholastics , 29(2), 427-438. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/2544524 [xii] Bellah, R. N. B. (1964). American sociological review.Religious Evolution, 29(3), 358-374. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/2091480 [xiii] Nauert, C. G. N. (1998). The sixteenth century journal.Humanism as Method: Roots of Conflict with the Scholastics , 29(2), 427-438. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/2544524 [xiv] â€Å"Bishop, W. S. B. (1906). The sewanee review. Erasmus,14(2), 129-148. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/27530759 [xv] Bishop, W. S. B. (1906). The sewanee review. Erasmus,14(2), 129-148. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/27530759 [xvi] Bishop, W. S. B. (1906). The sewanee review. Erasmus,14(2), 129-148. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/27530759 [xvii] Bellah, R. N. B. (1964). American sociological review.Religious Evolution, 29(3), 358-374. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/2091480 [xviii] Bellah, R. N. B. (1964). American sociological review.Religious Evolution, 29(3), 358-374. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/2091480 [xix] Grant, E. G. (2004). Scientific Imagination in the Middle Ages.

My favourite and least favourite characters from The Canterbury Tales :: English Literature

My favourite and least favourite characters from The Canterbury Tales My favourite character from Chaucer's Canterbury Tales is the Reeve. The Reeve comes across as a 'shady' or 'dark' character who's intentions are not fully recognised even when his prologue is finished. We don't get too much about his background but a lot on his appearance and the way he works. We already know that he is the farm bailiff. His appearance already gave a gripping edge to his personality, "His berd was shave as ny as ever he kan; "His beard was shaved as close as could His heer was by his eris ful round shorn; His hair was cut round his ears His top was dokked lyk a preest biforn. The top of his head was like a priest Ful longe wre his legges and ful lene," He had very long and skinny legs" His appearance gives the impression of an almost 'evil' looking character, with skinny, no calf legs and the phrase.. "His berd was shave as ny as ever he kan" gave the impression that he had a 'rugged' look to his face, a rough look which gives the impression that the others on the pilgramge might have looked up to him not in a role model way but rather a respectful and weary one. But then again he is given a holy like look as the top of his head is cut short like a priest giving the Reeve a holy look, which gives a clash of two worlds, the holy and the dark rugged side of life, but from examples from "The Summoner" and "The Monk", the chuchmen of the time were not see as very respectful men either and some could say the dark world was the world of the holy. This rugged, dark and ominous look is one of the things that makes me admire the Reeve, it is as if he is hiding his own real feelings, opinions on life within himself and that his face, this rough face is a mask hiding those feelings inside of him. It is as if you need to crack him to find more from him and his face gives no answers aiding to that. He also has a very clever and cunning nature which I admire in The Reeve. "Wel koude he kepe a gerner and a binne; Ther was noon auditour koude on him winne." "He could keep a granary and a cornbin well; No auditor could catch him out." This shows that the reeve had a cunning edge, clever at his job and also very stable in his job and with money as no accountant could ever

Tap and Bottled Water

Bradley TilkaOctober 16, 2012 Rhetoric and Public Address Mrs. Mendes Persuasive Speech – Outline Tap and Bottled Water Goal: To persuade the audience that: 1. Bottled water is not better than tap water 2. They should start using reusable water bottles Introduction Bottled water is believed by many to be cleaner and safer than tap water†¦ While in many cases bottled water is clean and kept at a good quality, it is almost equal in most aspects with tap water 1. Costs and value of bottled waterBasically, I would like to convince you that bottled water is not all it’s made out to be; the costs on bottled water make tap water a more sensible choice Bottled water is not better (healthier/cleaner) than tap, but most people are deceived into believing so Bottled water companies manufacture demand for their own products with ad campaigns (â€Å"pristine† glacier/mountain water) Invest in/Start using a water bottle! First Main Point: Bottled water is not better than tap Bottled WaterPros and Cons Regulations on bottled water Regulations on bottled water (regulated by the FDA) are less strict than those imposed on tap water (regulated by the EPA) (http://www. epa. gov/region7/kids/drnk_b. htm) * Regulations on Tap Water 1. Pros and Cons 2. Tap water is as healthy, if not healthier, than bottled water a) Strict quality policies are imposed on most sources of tap water by the EPA; Unlike the FDA, the EPA requires local utilities to provide an Annual Water Quality Report http://www. mayoclinic. com/health/tap-water/AN02167) Second Main Point: Bottled water companies manufacture demand for their own products with ad campaigns Bottled water companies make use of desirable imagery: Pristine glaciers, green pastures, etc. (http://abcnews. go. com/2020/Health/story? id=728070&page=1#. UI9AQGl25cN) Main Point 3: Invest in a water bottle! By using a pre-owned, reusable water bottle we can save money and resources on water (http://www. d. com/health/rethin k-what-you-drink/) B. There are many products that can enhance tap water for consumers (Brita, aerators, etc. ) * Conclusion Three Main Points Our Problem – Bottled water is not better (healthier/cleaner) than tap, but most people are deceived into believing so The Cause – Bottled water companies manufacture demand for their own products with ad campaigns (â€Å"pristine† glacier/mountain water) Solution – Invest in/Start using a water bottle!At the cost that bottled water is provided to us, it simply makes more sense to choose tap water. Provided to us for a much lower cost, it accurately reflects its value as a basic necessity. Many believe that bottled water is cleaner and safer than tap water. However, tap water is, in many cases, equal to or even better in quality than bottled water

Analysis Of Tennessee Williams s The Glass Menagerie

Fontes 11 Tennessee Williams is considered to be one of the most distinguished American playwrights of the twentieth century. As a Southern writer, Williams used his personal life and experiences as subject matter for many of his stories. Williams? turbulent early life was the basis for many of his plays. As an autobiographical play, The Glass Menagerie depicts individuals not only fleeing from reality, but also escaping from their desperate situations. Escape is defined ?as a means of obtaining temporary freedom from worry, care, or unpleasantness.? 1 Although the Wingfield family fails to accept reality, the characters have their own reasons and methods to escape their hopeless circumstances. Thomas (Tennessee) Lanier Williams III was born on March 26, 1911 in Columbus, Mississippi. He was the second child of Cornelius Coffin (C. C.) and Edwina Williams. C. C. was a traveling salesman, and Edwina was a minister?s daughter. His sister, Rose was born in 1909, and his brother, Dakin was born in 1919. Williams? early life was over-shadowed by his dysfunctional Southern family issues which included his parents? martial problems, his father?s alcoholism, and his sister?s mental condition. C. C. was a descendent of a prominent Tennessee family, which included John Servier, a Tennessee pioneer and the first governor of the state. His great grandfather, Thomas Lanier Williams, was involved in the formation of the state of Tennessee. C. C.?s military service includedShow MoreRelatedThe Glass Menagerie By Tennessee Williams2140 Words   |  9 PagesThe Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams is a play that represents the revelation of truth, the struggle of accepting reality, and the realization of possession. 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Principles and Practices of Leadership Management - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 7 Words: 2099 Downloads: 1 Date added: 2017/06/26 Category Management Essay Type Narrative essay Did you like this example? Principles and Practices of Leadership Management Abstract This paper will discuss the concept of leadership skills and the ways in which those unique skills define the exceptional leaders of today and also address to whom had portrayed the leadership style and qualities. Contemporary Leadership Skills: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“Leadership is one of the most observed and least understood phenomena on earthà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚  (Burns, 1978). The success or failure of an organization depends largely on the nature of their leadership style. An effective leader has the ability to guide and help his followers to achieve their personal best and companyà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s objectives. Leadership styles had changed over time. In order to effectively confront issues and obstacles in the ever changing and challenging market, leaders must possess a set of basic and unique set of skills. The leader of today is an idealized influence, an inspirational motivation, with intellec tual stimulation and individualized consideration (Walumbwa et al, 2005, p.2). Leaders have to possess the extensive knowledge of the industry, people and management skills and cognitive ability (Locke, 1999). Leadership looks simply like a style but ità ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s the qualities and skills that makes a leader effective. An effective leader inspire their workers into higher levels of teamwork; they are continually working and studying to improve their leadership skills. A successful story of a leader from a local bakery empire shows the qualities and traits of an effective leader. A success story à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" BreadTalk In the contemporary age of Singapore, BreadTalk had flourished to be one of the top FB Empire locally. The success abaft this organization leads to its leader and founder, George Quek. Came from a humble background, George started his business in Taiwan selling Dragon Beard candy from a kiosk and expands the business and later starts a small food business selling South-east Asian cuisine in Taiwan. He returned to Singapore in 1993 and set up Food Junction with his partners. Commenced BreadTalk in July 2000 with a revolutionary take on the bread industry. Entering the market with its incipient concept of a boutique bakery, it shook up the bakery industry with its innovative and ingenious products. Currently the market leader in the incipient concept bakery, BreadTalk was listed in June 2003 on the Singapore Exchange, giving customers a stake in the popular bakery. His FB empire extends to a restaurant chain, Din Tai Fung and innovated with the first thematic food atrium, Food Republic (Tan, 2012. p.3). George Quek armed with a never-say-die attitude and a fearlessness to challenge the impossible. His determination assisted his business to take off in Taiwan after the 3rd attempt and his transformation of bakery into an art described his innovative abilities. Today, the designation à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“BreadTalkà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚  is well established giving it a sustainable competitive advantage over its rivals. BreadTalk has prosperously managed to engender innovation in along deemed sunset bakery industry and has written off doubts that sunset industries cannot be revitalised. BreadTalk has not only revitalised the bakery industry but withal the dietary victualing habits of Singaporeans. In order to stay competitive, George Quek uses à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“innovative recreationà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚  in all its bread, aliment courts and restaurants, as he is vigilant that customers have different needs and ever transmuting tastes. George believed in taking care of people and working well together which also extends to between colleagues and business relationships. His notion reflects very vigorously on his leadership skills portrayed. George believes learning is essential for creativity; by developing and supporting his employees in giving trainings, it helps him when he embarked on his bakery business. George believ es strongly in teamwork. Hence, he encourages in developing and mentoring his people because there is no way a person can move to a successful level by himself. It is important for a leader to guide the team well and understand that everyone in the team is different. As a leader, he always stays flexible and supportive of the team. From here, people will decide whether they want to stay with you when thereà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s a war. This can be seen clearly during the SARs outbreak where sales are low in all the outlets and BreadTalk had effectively control its operational cost. However, despite this difficult period of time, it had persisted in its beliefs for people centeredness by maintaining and grooming more talents within its company. These measures had allowed the company to stay stronger in the market when facing challenges in time to come (Soh, 2013. p.1). Being an inspirational motivation, George articulate an appealing vision of the future by announcing his goal of h aving more than 2000 bakeries by 2018, inspiring all to work together with him towards the companyà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s objectives. With the expansion of à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“Ramen Playà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ , George appointed his General Manager of Din Tai Fung to manage this restaurant brand, empowering him to bring à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“Ramen Playà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚  to success. According to Lussier and Achua (2010), the transformation process involves changes. Leader needs to inspire the vision, lead the transition and implant the change. With the manpower crunch in recent years, leads to a decrease in availability of resources. George invested more than SGD 8 million on machines that can make dough and fold croissant rolls in its central kitchen in the new headquarters. Productivity has increased: while five people could make 100 frozen portions of dough in the past, two could make 300 now. He made his employees understood that policy wonà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t change, they need to adjust to it and with this change, George also reckons that with fewer staff, BreadTalk have more resources to improve employeesà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ salary. The success of BreadTalk has highly been dependent on the hands of à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" Transformational Leadership of George Quek. Leaders should be effective in crisis or when face an ever changing market place where globalization, innovation and constant change are significant factors. Though told by naysayers that bakery industry is a sunset one, Georgeà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s leadership style of transformation redefine the mundane experience of buying bread into a successful bakery empire. George possesses the key qualities of a leader à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" a source of inspiration, determined, creative, being resilient and courageous in times of difficulties. As we read about George Quek, being a contemporary leader, one must possess certain qualities to become a skilful leader. Having the ability to care is an essential quality in a leader additional ly. If a person does not have the compassion or ability to care for others or in what they do then I believe it would be detrimental to an organization to have this person as a leader. A good leader must additionally be dependable. Being dependable would instil confidence in the others you lead about your abilities. If a leader sets the example of not being dependable, then the people the leader works with will have no faith that the organization is being run in the best way possible. Resoluteness is another key factor in leading others. It gives a person the ability to fight through obstacles and accomplish tasks that are best for the organization and its employees. Veracity is one characteristic I cerebrate is the most consequential. Veracity distinguishes between leader with good ethics and deplorable ethics. If a person is destitute of veracity, the direction of their leadership can blindly take an organization into a perilous cause and values. Adhesion is withal paramount in a leader because a person that has no adhesion can harm an organization more than it can avail. The leaderà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s agenda may be for their own benefit and not what is best for the organization. A non-loyal leader could literally trade secrets that could financially or publicly eradicate a company. Besides George Quek, many innovative leader, in describing their ingenious process, have accentuated its subjectivity and individualistic nature. Hence, innovation is definitely the key to stay competitive and withal the essence of successful entrepreneurship is to have the constant drives in identifying potential business opportunities in the market. Besides having the good qualities essential to being a leader, one must have a unique set of skills to manage an organization like BreadTalk. With globalization and changes in constant, an effective leader ought to be able to possess skills of coaching, leading by example, give positive recognition and empowerment in order to driv e the organization to success. As a leader of BreadTalk, I must teach, adapt and be supportive especially to the ground level employees; bakers which constitutes a large number of the organizationà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s manpower. Teaching and coaching subordinates by setting the example is the way leaders achieve loyalty, and buy-in. Leaders are knowledgeable and experts in their respectful fields. They cannot provide a solid and productive coaching and guidance if they lack the proper levels of competence in the required field (Hughes, Ginnett, Curphy, 2009). It helps to create a stable working environment where subordinates are contented and provide high quality work. Leaders need to lead by example to inspire followers (Yukl, 1998). Being an inspirational motivator, it essentially avails followerà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s achieve their set goals employed in the business setting. In the contemporary age, leaders need to discover the potential within his followers. Empowering allows on e to become a self- reliant achiever. Rather than being told of what to do, followers will take actions to resolve what needs to be done (Blanchard et al, 1999). Monetary incentives could also be used, so that the followers would have a goal to shoot for, and would get compensated for their time and effort they put in to reach the goals the organization wanted to achieve. In an organization where Theory X and Theory Y workers exist (Lussier and Achua, 2010), rewards can also be used as a basis of à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‹Å"carrot and stickà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ on Theory X employees; rewarding them on what they had contributed. In managing Theory Y followers where employees are happy to work, are self-motivated and creative, and enjoy working with greater responsibility (Lussier and Achua, 2010); being a supportive and participative leader would be best adopted. I could consult with followers, consider their opinions and asking for their suggestions before making a decision. This helps in imp roving leader and follower relationship and inspire them to be innovative in resolving issues. As human relations is important to the organization, being a supportive leader shows concern for followers psychological well being. With the ever changing society and technological advancements, lower level employees might lack confidence to catch up with the change and being supportive is needed to assist them in the transition and adaption. The type of communication between the leader and follower is another important area of contrast between leadership styles. Communication is necessary between leader and follower because it establishes a relationship between the two. It is important to communicate with mid to junior level employees to build trust and gain commitment to the vision of the company. Communication is vital to unite and inspire employees, it is to motivate them toward the future. Walking around to communicate with employees, be it asking specific questions about work or listening to them is also a commitment in communication (Daft, 2008). In conclusion, the role of a leader has the responsibility to ensure the work is completed, goals are met and the mission is accomplished. In addition, they must apply critical leadership skills to be successful, such as demonstrating recognition, using effective communication, and illustrating honesty and loyalty. Employees desire to be recognized for contributions, motivating with rewards or engaging them in decision making give a positive impact on followers. The sincerity and timing of acknowledging positive behaviour are key factors that may encourage others to follow suit. Having a two-way communication, which shares, receives and understands communicated information is also vital in contemporary leaders. Each of the skills mentioned plays a significant role in leadership and must be learned, applied and enhanced to be effective. References: Blanchard, K., Carlos, J. Randolph, A. (1999) The 3 Keys to Empowerment. San Francisco: Berrett- Koehler Publishers, Inc. Burns, J. (1978) Leadership. New York: Harper Row, Publishers Daft, R. (2008) The Leadership Experience. 4th edn. USA: Thomson South-Western Hughes, R., Ginnett, R., Curphy, G. (2009) Leadership: Enhancing the lessons of experience. 6th edn. New York: McGraw-Hill Locke, E. (1999) The Essence of Leadership: The Four Keys to Leading Successfully. England: Lexington Books Lussier, R. Achua, C. (2010) Leadership: Theory, Application, Skill Development. 4th edn. Mason, OH: Cengage Learning Tan, B. (2012) Deft dough-maker. The Business Times. 24 Mar 2012, pp.1-4 Soh, A. (2013). BreadTalk staying fresh to maintain edge. The Business Times, 7 October, pp.1-2 Walumbwa, O., Lawler, J., Avolio, J., Wang, P. Shi, K. (2005) à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‹Å"Transformational leadership and work-related attitudes: The moderating effects of collective and self-efficacy across culturesà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ Journal of Leadership a nd Organizational Studies, Vol. 11, No. 3, pp.2-16. Yukl, G. (1998). Leadership in organizations. 4th edn. Eaglewood cliffs, NJ: Prentice hall Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Principles and Practices of Leadership Management" essay for you Create order

The Utilitarian Theory of Organ Donation Essay - 1805 Words

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Finance Financial Performance Measures and Value Creation

Question: Discuss about theFinance: Financial Performance Measures and Value Creation. Answer: Introduction: Evaluation of Green REIT Activities of Green REIT There are various Green REITs across the world. However, in this assignment the Green REIT Plc of Ireland has been selected for analyzing its activities, financing model, government rules and regulations and effect of environmental and social criteria on the firm. The Green REIT Plc is an Irish real estate investment trust that is enlisted on both the Irish and London Stock Exchange. Green REIT Plc is an organization that finances or owns income-producing real estate. This system of investment has been structured rightly after the system of mutual funds. As per the similar strategy of the mutual funds, the REITs give its investors various kinds of regular income streams, long-term capital appreciation and diversification[1]. The particular organization generally pays out all of its income that is taxable as dividends to the shareholders of the firm. In turn of this, the shareholders compensate the income taxes on these dividends. The Green REIT Plc allow every investor to invest in t he portfolios of the large scale properties in a similar way in which they invest in the other sectors by purchasing the stocks. In the similar manner, the shareholders get benefited in case of investing in Green REIT Plc by purchasing shares in various different companies. Thus, the Green REIT Plcs shareholders generally receive the share of the produced income by the investment in the real estate without buying or financing property in real[2]. Financing Model The financing model of the Green REIT Plc is of unique nature. It can be said that the financing model of the investment in the Green REIT Plc are similar to the investment strategy in the mutual fund. It has been found that the Green REIT plc is operated on the main stock exchanges. Most importantly, REITs are of two kinds Mortgage REITs and Equity REITs. The equity REITs help in generating returns by the process of collecting the rent by selling the properties which they purchase with the aim of long-run investment. In addition to this, investment in the mortgage securities and mortgages that are related to the commercial and residential properties are termed as mortgage REITs. Government Programs and Regulations Used to Complement its Financial Performance Green REIT plcs operations are composed of both domestic and international laws and governmental regulations that are related to land use, property, safety and health requirements, zoning, development and environmental compliance[3]. Metrics Used to Measure Environmental and Social Impact of Green REIT Plc The laws and regulations of the Green REIT plc regarding environmental and social impact are amended over time. The liabilities might result into significant removal, investigation or remediation costs despite of whether the firm Green REIT Plc caused the contamination or other hazards of environment. The environmental regulations and laws of the company Green REIT Plc. limit the development of and also impose liability for the interruption of the habitats or wetlands of the endangered or threatened species. The particular company has various impacts on the environment and social. It can be measured through survey, the benefit that is received by the public and the maintenance of the health of the public. In addition to this the viewpoint of the society also helps to measure the environmental and social impact of Green REIT Plc. Expected Impact of the Environmental and Social Criteria on Financial Performance For Green REIT plc, leasing properties those containing storage tanks for storage of toxic or hazardous substances to tenants those are associated with commercial and manufacturing activities will increase the risk of liabilities as per environmental laws and regulations[4]. However, if the firm Green REIT Plc is exposed to environmental liabilities then the environmental laws and regulations might have a negative impact on the financial performance of the firm along with business prospects. Information on Actual Financial Performance of the REIT Nowadays, the Green REIT plc is associated with most of the aspects that are related with the economy. These include hotels, hospitals, infrastructure, industrial amenities, apartments, offices, shopping malls, student housing, storage centers, nursing homes and timberlands. Thus, the actual financial performance of the Green REIT plc is continuously growing with the development and popularity of the REIT investment among the investors. References 'Green REIT PLC' (Green REIT PLC, 2016) https://www.greenreitplc.com/ accessed 23 June 2016 'IRIS Metrics | IRIS' (Iris.thegiin.org, 2016) https://iris.thegiin.org/metrics accessed 23 June 2016 Venanzi D,Financial Performance Measures And Value Creation(Springer 2012) 'What Is A REIT? | NAREIT' (REIT.com, 2016) https://www.reit.com/investing/reit-basics/what-reit accessed 23 June 2016