Report Of Business Organizations Tesco And Oxfam Business Essay

Report Of Business Organizations Tesco And Oxfam Business Essay Term of Reference: I have investigated two organizations 20/10/10 one from profit sector which is Tesco and one from non profit sector which is Oxfam. Procedure: I am going to collect relevant material of these two by using internet and textbooks. FINDINGS: I have chosen two contrasting organizations TESCO and Oxfam. Tesco is a shopping mart where we can purchase our essential things. It can also be define as a global grocery and general merchandising vendor headquartered in UK. Sir Jack Cohen founded Tesco in 1919, when he began to sell extra food stuff from a stall in the East End of London. Tesco first appeared above a shop in Edgware in 1929 and since then the company has grown and developed. Tesco is the third largest retailer in the world measured by income Tesco private limited corporation (PLC) is the biggest super mart in UK which has 29% of shares in market compared to other companies like asda which has 17% shares in market. PLC private limited company and dont allow its shares for sale publically. Plc company makes profit more than public companies. A Plc company has no limits of share and share capital and there is no limit to the members liability because there is no limitation on members liability Purpose of Tesco is to make money and invest and sale quality products. And provide reliable materials to consumers. Why do Tesco exist? Tesco exist to provide the goods and services that people and earning money and profits from business .it provides jobs for people the Tesco provides daily need products . Products that customers demand like food, clothes, Home electircs,Sound and vision ,Bed and bath, Furniture and kitchen, Clothing and jewellery, Toys and gift, Baby and toddlers, Garden needs. Products and services supplied at profit, at cost and below cost. Tesco is getting profit by introducing new brands and also selling goods at lease.tehy are getting profit on products by supplying them to other countries and at whole sale. They can sell products by introducing off packages to customers at low prices for a specific duration which means to make them as a regular customers to gain profit in future. And also out of seasons sale which shows selling at low cost. Objectives of TESCO are as tesco is UKs finest food retailers having 519 stores in England, Wales, and Scotland. And 105 stores in France managed by wine producer and 44 in Hungary managed by international. Tesco offers best reasonable prices. Tesco meets the need of customers opinions regarding advance product quality, choice, store facilities and service Tesco is the main profitable investment with progressive return. Tesco is introducing young talents and sound management of workers and training practices and giving job on marit basis not by personal relations.Tesco maintaining its relationships with product makers supplier on quality and price criteria. Tesco is co operating on making of food in industry. also Providing good environment and protection. Ownership can be defined as Employee or executive who has the principle responsibility for a business, or project The public sector in this type of ownership only British people can get ownership in Tesco to gain profit. Sole Traders controlled and financed by one person. Least expensive form of ownership to organize. Sole proprietors receive all income generated by the business to keep or reinvest. Partnerships contains 2 -20 members who share their assets and profits from business. Public Limited Companies (PLCs) shares to the general public it contains Minimum of 2 but no maximum number of shareholders Private Limited Companies contains financed and controlled by between 2 and 50 shareholders. Franchises .A business which has bought the right to trade under established name in different cities.e.g McDonalds, KFC. Co-operatives it contains Groups of people who enter business and share the benefits customers Co-operatives, Producer Co-operatives, Worker Co-operatives. Charitable trust for helping famines and collect funds from rich .and also receives funds from GOVT. OXFAM It is a trouble reliever organization which includes 14 countries organization with 3,000 partners in around 100 countries to decrease poverty and injustice .It can be define as an International organization which helps and provide training and financial aid to people in developing countries and disaster areas. A UK based organization which was established in the 1942. Oxfam is campaigns, development program and emergency response by co operation of internationally connected associations. Oxfam international was formed in 1995 by an independent non government organization. Development Works with local partner organization And helps poor and poverty. And realizing People Their rights e.g. education, health Emergency Oxfam provides life saving aids during Emergency and help people for Future Crises Campaigning Putting the pressure on leaders to make long lasting change Oxfam International is group of 13 independent association contains Germany Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, , Great Britain, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Ireland, The Netherlands, Quebec, Spain and the United States. Why Oxfam exist? Oxfam exists to make a global impact on the causes of poverty. Today mostly countries areas are facing problems and Oxfam is the most efficient organization to help them. Campaign initiatives, planning and putting into practice new tactics and strategies to spread climate change.oxfam is trying to make relationships globally with international NGOs to develop prosperity. Objectives of OXFAM: Relieve suffering caused by natural disasters.Oxfam supports peace and understanding based upon mutual tolerance and respect. Strengthen peoples capacity to help them. Oxfam works for trade justice, fair trade, education and aid, health, HIV/AIDS, conflict ,campaigning and natural disasters, human rights, and climate change. Oxfams International purpose. The main purposes of Oxfam are Promote, assist and manage relationship between the Oxfam international to do help all disasterd people globall.and earning name at international level And removing poverty OXFAM has its committee in different countries which are as under Oxfam GB (Great Britain) .Oxfam Canada.Oxfam America. Oxfam GB (Great Britain) independent non-profit organization is the biggest family for help and has large capacity of workers and income for famines . In UK OXFAM GB was originated in 1942. Oxfam Canada is first member of Oxfam International, and was developed in 1963.in at start Canada Oxfam faced troubles soon Canada began to analyse its role in the development process. OXFAM in AMERICA an independent non-profit organization was developed in America in 1970 and fight for independence and shelter. Advantages of Oxfam are they dont have to pay tax. they get ready to help other. they receive money from businessman and Government. TESCO Stakeholder Stakeholder can be defined as a person, group or organization that has direct and indirect position in organization. It is affected by organizations rules, polices and decisions. Tesco has many stakeholders. Government, Customers, Employees, Local Community, Suppliers, and Pressure Groups: they all have equal importance in building of Tesco Customers. Usually a customer wants quality goods at a low cost. They would also want a variety of products to choose from key holders Diagram of stakeholder in organization Supplier Owners Government Creditors Customer Directors Workers Community Unions Key stakeholders in a business organization Customers. These are the people who buy products from shops and to save lives of needy people. Customers want reliable products and at low prices. Employees its how you manage in any situation; understand the customer; be first with the customer use your strength to deliver unbeatable value and look after the staff so they can look after the customer, teamwork trust and respect. Directors they are responsible for business objectives and managing all strategic decisions .director holds discussion at board meetings. Where they make strategy for improving business, Managers they are responsible for obtaining goals creating atmosphere of work among workers, each manager has handles accounting, law marketing, and sales production. Suppliers they supply products at commercial level like banking .they supply goods to different branches. Owners they are the business, assets holder, and pay the workers. Pressure groups not put up candidates for election, but seeks to influence government policy rules. Trade unions function is discuss pay and working conditions and creates discipline among workers Employee Associations they set up pay packages and employees for resolving argument. Stakeholders of Oxfam Stakeholder can be defined as a person, group or organization that has direct and indirect position in organization. It is affected by organizations rules, polices and decisions. Volunteers they are the workers who help in building Oxfams strength. Volunteering is a personal Choice, not a compulsory job. Express values in activities that are meaningful. And co operates for helping in medicine, education, or emergency rescue. Campaign supporters The Individuals, celebrities, politicians and organizations across the run campaign for collecting funds and to remove illiteracy and poverty. Individual donors this types of donors can make decisions faster, they mostly work in under developed countries to make them growing countries, and feel this easy to work alone. Donate personally money, clothes for removing poverty. Customers are the main participant in organization. They help by buying food, drinks, and also help organization by used drink bottles and wrappers for recycling and make collection for Oxfam. Without their involvement it is not possible collecting money for Oxfam. Employees they are workers of Oxfam and work in flood relieving, food preparation, palcing people in save places when they get infected. Pressure groups they help in protesting if Government is not funding properly.ank manage strike on roads, institutes, cites and encourage people for infected s help from Govt. FUNCTIONAL AREA OF TESCO Board of Directors Finance department Marketing sales department Production department Finance manager Accountant Marketing manager Area sales manager Sales staff Production manager Production supervisor Production workers Human resource department Human resource manager Clerical assistant ICT department Board of directors people are the people of tesco who have decision-making rights, voting rights specific responsibilities which in each case are separate and distinct from the authority and responsibilities of owners and managers of the business entity. Finance department is responsible of balance sheets, profit and loss of tesco and responsible to keep records of fund and all planning of Tesco financial income and loss. Finance manager duties are to make investment sheets ,financial reports, activities, and implement cash management strategies. Accountant helps managers to make reports, investments (savings), and tax implementations. Handles profit loss details, cost production, financial statements. Marketing sales department function is to understand users needs and fulfil requirements with quality of goods and also pay attention to their demands and fulfil that correctly. Sales manager sales out products and provide services to the customer for the profit and want to become finest retailer. They ake products available for all customers. Production Tesco is to make sure that the goods of Tesco are formed on time and is in a suitable quality for the customers. And maintain furniture. Production managers duty is to handle all kind of goods preparation demands and duration when product will get ready for customers and at given time and at exact time and standard. Production workers made goods according to the user demands and works exactly in uniform way. They have to know all about what customer wants and what kind of material should use. Human resources keep hold of good experienced staff and only choose hardworking employees and They deal with the recruitment, employees, planning, training and paying to employees. ICT (International Computers and Tabulators) its main function is to check that all data of Tesco is stored properly. All computer software are working, all business websites are accessing.(tescopls.com) FUNCTIONAL AREA OF OXFAM Oxfam ambassadors Political counsellors Deputy Chief of mission Defence attached Economic counsellor Public affairs Chief security assistant Administrative counsellor Director Counsellor office Agency representatives Director Peace Corps Ambassadors are the highly ranked representative within a nation for other organization. and directly linked by Government. Political counsellors/ Deputy Chief of mission/ Defence attached they all are directly attached with ambassador an communicate all society problem with each other and make decisions Director is a group of people nominated by the owners of a business who have decision-making authority, voting authority specific responsibilities which in each case is separate and distinct from the authority and responsibilities of owners and managers of the business entity Deputy Chief of missionHe or she acts like a ambassador in absence of chief of mission. He handles matter in absence of chief of mission Political, Economic, Public Affairs, Management) at the Embassy,. Director Peace Corps US company that sends American volunteers to developing countries for educational, agricultural improvements. Tesco Mission and values Planning, calculating and the passing of information form rival is called mission. Tescos mission is to earn profit and sale pure goods. And to sale goods online by using website tesco.com and public dealing in good manner to make regular customers and create significance for customers to earn their lifetime reliability. Values Values of an organization defines it standards. They show Respect to each others Try to give their best. Want to be energetic and fit. Tesco strategies to become are successful international trader, to become famous business party. To be good food provider to put community at the heart of what we do. Objectives Tesco increasing customers by offering buy 1 gets 1 free. Tesco offers best reasonable prices. Tesco meets the need of customers opinions regarding advance, product quality, choice, store facilities and service Tesco is the main profitable investment with progressive return. Tesco is introducing young talents and sound management of workers and training practices and giving job on merit basis not by personal relations. Tesco maintaining its relationships with supplier (product makers) on strict quality and price criteria.Tesco is co operating on making of food in industry. Provides good environment and protection Strategic Planning Tesco is trying to make shopping easy and comfortable. Seeking to low price to help people Lessing prices. Smart objectives of Tesco Specific Tesco wants to make profit its sale. Measurable Tesco is leading in business by its major shares in market. Achievable Tesco achieve its goal by increasing its customers and making profits. Tesco has achieved it by good quality products. Realistic Tesco is third big company in world. OXFAM Mission It acts for attitudinal change to facilitate in development, socially and economically. It helps famine and giving life to them. Values satisfactory behavior within organization. Behavior of individuals within the organization. And Flexible commitment. Use time and resources efficiently Strategic aims and objectives Oxfam works for trade justice, fair trade, education and aid, health, HIV/AIDS, conflict ,campaigning and natural disasters, human rights, and climate change. and supporting children by educating them and providing food. Oxfam strategic planning process Oxfam is worlds 3rd largest nonprofit organization and Oxfam strategic planning process is to works for the removal of poverty. To fight homelessness and also for the development of undeveloped area and for progress of organization. Smart objectives of Oxfam Specific Reducing Poverty is specific objective. Measurable Oxfam is responding to 26 emergency situations worldwide. Relevant skills Oxfam is finding people who have skills to tackle problems. Time-based Oxfam includes 14 countries union working in more than 100 countries. M1 Point of Views of different stakeholders Directors the business through meetings with top managers and managing stretegies for progress of tesco.Employees should work hard on making good quality products that will make profit and also increase pay and conditions of Employees and also helpful for safety, health and pension arrangements. Customers views are to getting latest brands and saving by low price products. D1 Evaluate the influence different stakeholders exert in one organization Stakeholders stand for great influence in organization. Developing countries employees make fashionable clothes and brands to exert little power over their employers to give them jobs and getting new products. Owners are the organizations main stakeholders and gain profit and pays all bills and wages to workers and remain profit shares with shareholders directors pay attention to make strategy and decisions regarding organization Government influences by law rights to change behaviour of environmental or health and safety. Employees exert main role in business profit or loss. When the economy is active they work hard and make extra products. Customers also create great influence within an organization by purchasing products from store or online at low prices. Conclusion I was given an Assignment of two contrasting organizations Tesco and Oxfam. I found that both organizations are serving better in their departments and both are for people. in both organizations stake holder are more important participant because if you dont have too many stake holder and your profitable and non profitable organizations will not succeed in their missions. Recommendations I would like to recommend the both different organization one is profit gaining Tesco and nonprofits gaining Oxfam have good customer connection because Oxfam is an international charity which is focused on fighting poverty and providing them shelter.and Tesco is providing daily needs products for customers and also providing funds to Oxfoam so that they can participate in decreasing poverty. So both plays important role for customers.

Second Foundation 8. Seldon’s Plan

MATHEMATICS The synthesis of the calculus of n-variables and of n-dimensional geometry is the basis of what Seldon once called â€Å"my little algebra of humanity†Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ Encyclopedia Galactica Consider a room! The location of the room is not in question at the moment. It is merely sufficient to say that in that room, more than anywhere, the Second Foundation existed. It was a room which, through the centuries, had been the abode of pure science – yet it had none of the gadgets with which, through millennia of association, science has come to be considered equivalent. It was a science, instead, which dealt with mathematical concepts only, in a manner similar to the speculation of ancient, ancient races in the primitive, prehistoric days before technology had come to be; before Man had spread beyond a single, now-unknown world. For one thing, there was in that room – protected by a mental science as yet unassailable by the combined physical might of the rest of the Galaxy – the Prime Radiant, which held in its vitals the Seldon Plan – complete. For another, there was a man, too, in that room – The First Speaker. He was the twelfth in the line of chief guardians of the Plan, and his title bore no deeper significance than the fact that at the gatherings of the leaders of the Second Foundation, he spoke first. His predecessor had beaten the Mule, but the wreckage of that gigantic struggle still littered the path of the Plan- For twenty-five years, he, and his administration, had been trying to force a Galaxy of stubborn and stupid human beings back to the path-It was a terrible task. The First Speaker looked up at the opening door. Even while, in the loneliness of the room, he considered his quarter century of effort, which now so slowly and inevitably approached its climax; even while he had been so engaged, his mind had been considering the newcomer with a gentle expectation. A youth, a student, one of those who might take over, eventually. The young man stood uncertainly at the door, so that the First Speaker had to walk to him and lead him in, with a friendly hand upon the shoulder. The Student smiled shyly, and the First Speaker responded by saying, â€Å"First, I must tell you why you are here.† They faced each other now, across the desk. Neither was speaking in any way that could be recognized as such by any man in the Galaxy who was not himself a member of the Second Foundation. Speech, originally, was the device whereby Man learned, imperfectly, to transmit the thoughts and emotions of his mind. By setting up arbitrary sounds and combinations of sounds to represent certain mental nuances, be developed a method of communication – but one which in its clumsiness and thick-thumbed inadequacy degenerated all the delicacy of the mind into gross and guttural signaling. Down – down – the results can be followed; and all the suffering that humanity ever knew can be traced to the one fact that no man in the history of the Galaxy, until Hari Seldon, and very few men thereafter, could really understand one another. Every human being lived behind an impenetrable wall of choking mist within which no other but he existed. Occasionally there were the dim signals from deep within the cavern in which another man was located-so that each might grope toward the other. Yet because they did not know one another, and could not understand one another, and dared not trust one another, and felt from infancy the terrors and insecurity of that ultimate isolation – there was the hunted fear of man for man, the savage rapacity of man toward man. Feet, for tens of thousands of years, had clogged and shuffled in the mud – and held down the minds which, for an equal time, had been fit for the companionship of the stars. Grimly, Man had instinctively sought to circumvent the prison bars of ordinary speech. Semantics, symbolic logic, psychoanalysis – they had all been devices whereby speech could either be refined or by-passed. Psychohistory had been the development of mental science, the final mathematicization thereof, rather, which had finally succeeded. Through the development of the mathematics necessary to understand the facts of neural physiology and the electrochemistry of the nervous system, which themselves had to be, had to be, traced down to nuclear forces, it first became possible to truly develop psychology. And through the generalization of psychological knowledge from the individual to the group, sociology was also mathematicized. The larger groups; the billions that occupied planets; the trillions that occupied Sectors; the quadrillions that occupied the whole Galaxy, became, not simply human beings, but gigantic forces amenable to statistical treatment – so that to Hari Seldon, the future became clear and inevitable, and the Plan could be set up. The same basic developments of mental science that had brought about the development of the Seldon Plan, thus made it also unnecessary for the First Speaker to use words in addressing the Student. Every reaction to a stimulus, however slight, was completely indicative of all the trifling changes, of all the flickering currents that went on in another's mind. The First Speaker could not sense the emotional content of the Student's instinctively, as the Mule would have been able to do – since the Mule was a mutant with powers not ever likely to become completely comprehensible to any ordinary man, even a Second Foundationer – rather he deduced them, as the result of intensive training. Since, however, it is inherently impossible in a society based on speech to indicate truly the method of communication of Second Foundationers among themselves, the whole matter will be hereafter ignored. The First Speaker will be represented as speaking in ordinary fashion, and if the translation is not always entirely valid, it is at least the best that can be done under the circumstances. It will be pretended therefore, that the First Speaker did actually say, â€Å"First, I must tell you why you are here,† instead of smiling just so and lifting a finger exactly thus. The First Speaker said, â€Å"You have studied mental science hard and well for most of your life. You have absorbed all your teachers could give you. It is time for you and a few others like yourself to begin your apprenticeship for Speakerhood.† Agitation from the other side of the desk. â€Å"No – now you must take this phlegmatically. You had hoped you would qualify. You had feared you would not. Actually, both hope and fear are weaknesses. You knew you would qualify and you hesitate to admit the fact because such knowledge might stamp you as cocksure and therefore unfit. Nonsense! The most hopelessly stupid man is he who is not aware that he is wise. It is part of your qualification that you knew you would qualify.† Relaxation on the other side of the desk. â€Å"Exactly. Now you feel better and your guard is down. You are fitter to concentrate and fitter to understand. Remember, to be truly effective, it is not necessary to hold the mind under a tight, controlling barrier which to the intelligent probe is as informative as a naked mentality. Rather, one should cultivate an innocence, an awareness of self, and an unself-consciousness of self which leaves one nothing to hide. My mind is open to you. Let this be so for both of us.† He went on. â€Å"It is not an easy thing to be a Speaker. It is not an easy thing to be a Psychohistorian in the first place; and not even the best Psychohistorian need necessarily qualify to be a Speaker. There is a distinction here. A Speaker must not only be aware of the mathematical intricacies of the Seldon Plan; he must have a sympathy for it and for its ends. He must love the Plan; to him it must be life and breath. More than that it must even be as a living friend. â€Å"Do you know what this is?† The First Speaker's hand hovered gently over the black, shining cube in the middle of the desk. It was featureless. â€Å"No, Speaker, I do not.† â€Å"You have heard of the Prime Radiant?† â€Å"This?† – Astonishment. â€Å"You expected something more noble and awe-inspiring? Well, that is natural. It was created in the days of the Empire, by men of Seldon's time. For nearly four hundred years, it has served our needs perfectly, without requiring repairs or adjustment. And fortunately so, since none of the Second Foundation is qualified to handle it in any technical fashion.† He smiled gently. â€Å"Those of the First Foundation might be able to duplicate this, but they must never know, of course.† He depressed a lever on his side of the desk and the room was in darkness. But only for a moment, since with a gradually livening flush, the two long walls of the room glowed to life. First, a pearly white, unrelieved, then a trace of faint darkness here and there, and finally, the fine neatly printed equations in black, with an occasional red hairline that wavered through the darker forest like a staggering rillet. â€Å"Come, my boy, step here before the wall. You will not cast a shadow. This light does not radiate from the Radiant in an ordinary manner. To tell you the truth, I do not know even faintly by what medium this effect is produced, but you will not cast a shadow. I know that.† They stood together in the light. Each wall was thirty feet long, and ten high. The writing was small and covered every inch. â€Å"This is not the whole Plan,† said the First Speaker. â€Å"To get it all upon both walls, the individual equations would have to be reduced to microscopic size – but that is not necessary. What you now see represents the main portions of the Plan till now. You have learned about this, have you not?† â€Å"Yes, Speaker, I have.† â€Å"Do you recognize any portion.† A slow silence. The student pointed a finger and as he did so, the line of equations marched down the wall, until the single series of functions he had thought of – one could scarcely consider the quick, generalized gesture of the finger to have been sufficiently precise – was at eye-level. The First Speaker laughed softly, â€Å"You will find the Prime Radiant to be attuned to your mind. You may expect more surprises from the little gadget. What were you about to say about the equation you have chosen?† â€Å"It,† faltered the Student, â€Å"is a Rigellian integral, using a planetary distribution of a bias indicating the presence of two chief economic classes on the planet, or maybe a Sector, plus an unstable emotional pattern.† â€Å"And what does it signify?† â€Å"It represents the limit of tension, since we have here† – he pointed, and again the equations veered – â€Å"a converging series.† â€Å"Good,† said the First Speaker. â€Å"And tell me, what do you think of all this. A finished work of art, is it not?† â€Å"Definitely!† â€Å"Wrong! It is not.† This, with sharpness. â€Å"It is the first lesson you must unlearn. The Seldon Plan is neither complete nor correct. Instead, it is merely the best that could be done at the time. Over a dozen generations of men have pored over these equations, worked at them, taken them apart to the last decimal place, and put them together again. They've done more than that. They've watched nearly four hundred years pass and against the predictions and equations, they've checked reality, and they have learned. â€Å"They have learned more than Seldon ever knew, and if with the accumulated knowledge of the centuries we could repeat Seldon's work, we could do a better job. Is that perfectly clear to you?† The Student appeared a little shocked. â€Å"Before you obtain your Speakerhood,† continued the First Speaker, â€Å"you yourself will have to make an original contribution to the Plan. It is not such great blasphemy. Every red mark you see on the wall is the contribution of a man among us who lived since Seldon. Why†¦ why-† He looked upward, â€Å"There!† The whole wall seemed to whirl down upon him. â€Å"This,† he said, â€Å"is mine.† A fine red line encircled two forking arrows and included six square feet of deductions along each path. Between the two were a series of equations in red. â€Å"It does not,† said the Speaker, â€Å"seem to be much. It is at a point in the Plan which we will not reach yet for a time as long as that which has already passed. It is at the period of coalescence, when the Second Empire that is to be is in the grip of rival personalities who will threaten to pull it apart if the fight is too even, or clamp it into rigidity, if the fight is too uneven. Both possibilities are considered here, followed, and the method of avoiding either indicated. â€Å"Yet it is all a matter of probabilities and a third course can exist. It is one of comparatively low likelihood – twelve point six four percent, to be exact – but even smaller chances have already come to pass and the Plan is only forty percent complete. This third probability consists of a possible compromise between two or more of the conflicting personalities being considered. This, I showed, would first freeze the Second Empire into an unprofitable mold, and then, eventually, inflict more damage through civil wars than would have taken place had a compromise never been made in the first place. Fortunately, that could be prevented, too. And that was my contribution.† â€Å"If I may interrupt, Speaker- How is a change made?† â€Å"Through the agency of the Radiant. You will find in your own case, for instance, that your mathematics will be checked rigorously by five different boards; and that you will be required to defend it against a concerted and merciless attack. Two years will then pass, and your development will be reviewed again. It has happened more than once that a seemingly perfect piece of work has uncovered its fallacies only after an induction period of months or years. Sometimes, the contributor himself discovers the flaw. â€Å"If, after two years, another examination, not less detailed than the first, still passes it, and – better still – if in the interim the young scientist has brought to light additional details, subsidiary evidence, the contribution will be added to the Plan. It was the climax of my career; it will be the climax of yours. â€Å"The Prime Radiant can be adjusted to your mind, and all corrections and additions can be made through mental rapport. There will be nothing to indicate that the correction or addition is yours. In all the history of the Plan there has been no personalization. It is rather a creation of all of us together. Do you understand?† â€Å"Yes, Speaker!† â€Å"Then, enough of that.† A stride to the Prime Radiant, and the walls were blank again save for the ordinary room-lighting region along the upper borders. â€Å"Sit down here at my desk, and let me talk to you. It is enough for a Psychohistorian, as such, to know his Biostatistics and his Neurochemical Electromathematics. Some know nothing else and are fit only to be statistical technicians. But a Speaker must be able to discuss the Plan without mathematics. If not the Plan itself, at least its philosophy and its aims. â€Å"First of all, what is the aim of the Plan? Please tell me in your own words – and don't grope for fine sentiment. You won't be judged on polish and suavity, I assure you.† It was the Student's first chance at more than a bisyllable, and he hesitated before plunging into the expectant space cleared away for him. He said, diffidently: â€Å"As a result of what I have learned, I believe that it is the intention of the Plan to establish a human civilization based on an orientation entirely different from anything that ever before existed. An orientation which, according to the findings of Psychohistory, could never spontaneously come into being-â€Å" â€Å"Stop!† The First Speaker was insistent. ‘You must not say ‘never.' That is a lazy slurring over of the facts. Actually, Psychohistory predicts only probabilities. A particular event may be infinitesimally probable, but the probability is always greater than zero.† â€Å"Yes, Speaker. The orientation desired, if I may correct myself, then, is well known to possess no significant probability of spontaneously coming to pass.† â€Å"Better. What is the orientation?† â€Å"It is that of a civilization based on mental science. In all the known history of Mankind, advances have been made primarily in physical technology; in the capacity of handling the inanimate world about Man. Control of self and society has been left to chance or to the vague gropings of intuitive ethical systems based on inspiration and emotion. As a result, no culture of greater stability than about fifty-five percent has ever existed, and these only as the result of great human misery.† â€Å"And why is the orientation we speak of a nonspontaneous one?† â€Å"Because a large minority of human beings are mentally equipped to take part in the advance of physical science, and all receive the crude and visible benefits thereof. Only an insignificant minority, however, are inherently able to lead Man through the greater involvements of Mental Science; and the benefits derived therefrom, while longer lasting, are more subtle and less apparent. Furthermore, since such an orientation would lead to the development of a benevolent dictatorship of the mentally best – virtually a higher subdivision of Man – it would be resented and could not be stable without the application of a force which would depress the rest of Mankind to brute level. Such a development is repugnant to us and must be avoided.† â€Å"What, then, is the solution?† â€Å"The solution is the Seldon Plan. Conditions have been so arranged and so maintained that in a millennium from its beginnings – six hundred years from now, a Second Galactic Empire will have been established in which Mankind will be ready for the leadership of Mental Science. In that same interval, the Second Foundation in its development, will have brought forth a group of Psychologists ready to assume leadership. Or, as I have myself often thought, the First Foundation supplies the physical framework of a single political unit, and the Second Foundation supplies the mental framework of a ready-made ruling class.† â€Å"I see. Fairly adequate. Do you think that any Second Empire, even if formed in the time set by Seldon, would do as a fulfillment of his Plan?† â€Å"No, Speaker, I do not. There are several possible Second Empires that may be formed in the period of time stretching from nine hundred to seventeen hundred years after the inception of the Plan, but only one of these is the Second Empire.† â€Å"And in view of all this, why is it necessary that the existence of the Second Foundation be hidden – above all, from the First Foundation?† The Student probed for a hidden meaning to the question and failed to find it. He was troubled in his answer, â€Å"For the same reason that the details of the Plan as a whole must be hidden from Mankind in general. The laws of Psychohistory are statistical in nature and are rendered invalid if the actions of individual men are not random in nature. If a sizable group of human beings learned of key details of the Plan, their actions would be governed by that knowledge and would no longer be random in the meaning of the axioms of Psychohistory. In other words, they would no longer be perfectly predictable. Your pardon, Speaker, but I feel that the answer is not satisfactory.† â€Å"It is well that you do. Your answer is quite incomplete. It is the Second Foundation itself which must be hidden, not simply the Plan. The Second Empire is not yet formed. We have still a society which would resent a ruling class of psychologists, and which would fear its development and fight against it. Do you understand that?† â€Å"Yes, Speaker, I do. The point has never been stressed-â€Å" â€Å"Don't minimize. It has never been made – in the classroom, though you should be capable of deducing it yourself. This and many other points we will make now and in the near future during your apprenticeship. You will see me again in a week. By that time, I would like to have comments from you as to a certain problem which I now set before you. I don't want complete and rigorous mathematical treatment. That would take a year for an expert, and not a week for you. But I do want an indication as to trends and directions.*** â€Å"You have here a fork in the Plan at a period in time of about half a century ago. The necessary details are included. You will note that the path followed by the assumed reality diverges from all the plotted predictions; its probability being under one percent. You will estimate for how long the divergence may continue before it becomes uncorrectable. Estimate also the probable end if uncorrected, and a reasonable method of correction.† The Student flipped the Viewer at random and looked stonily at the passages presented on the tiny, built-in screen. He said: â€Å"Why this particular problem, Speaker? It obviously has significance other than purely academic.† â€Å"Thank you, my boy. You are as quick as I had expected. The problem is not supposititious. Nearly half a century ago, the Mule burst into Galactic history and for ten years was the largest single fact in the universe. He was unprovided for; uncalculated for. He bent the Plan seriously, but not fatally. â€Å"To stop him before he did become fatal, however, we were forced to take active part against him. We revealed our existence, and infinitely worse, a portion of our power. The First Foundation has learned of us, and their actions are now predicated on that knowledge. Observe in the problem presented. Here. And here. â€Å"Naturally, you will not speak of this to anyone.† There was an appalled pause, as realization seeped into the Student. He said: â€Å"Then the Seldon Plan has failed!† â€Å"Not yet. It merely may have failed. The probabilities of success are still twenty-one point four percent, as of the last assessment.†

What Does Pop Culture Say Essay - 1239 Words

With the advancement of technology bridging the gap between countries, communication has traveled a long way from where it was in the past. With this development comes the fact that countries are becoming closer and closer. This closeness has led to the diffusion of pop culture all across the world. Along with the spread of pop culture, there has also been an establishment of an idea of what is popular in a certain country. Having this establishment let’s others outside of a country configure an image of what the people and country are like. However, many times, these views are disfigured. More often than not the people are misinformed and thus, the images created are not an accurate depiction of the country and its people. It is because†¦show more content†¦Some of the interesting info to come out of the polling included what Europeans viewed as the best of American culture, â€Å"40% said movies and TV were the best American cultural export† (Cohen). These r esults connect to the idea that TV shows and movies create a great influence to those outside of the United States. Of course it is understandable that things like Hollywood would be popular all across the globe. Hollywood is one of the largest movie industries in the world. However, not everyone is pleased with American TV shows and movies. In fact, much of this hate actually comes from citizens of the United States. In the same poll, â€Å"†¦when asked to identify Americas worst contribution to world culture, 32% of Americans pointed to film and television, a far higher proportion than in any other country and the single most popular response among U.S. respondents† (Cohen). Even though many other countries view American TV and films with admiration, Americans believe that it creates the highest negative cultural influence. This is of course compared to what Europeans chose as American’s worst contribution to the global culture which was food. So while some of these polling responses fit what would be expected, some of the American response was unexpected. Thus showing that many countries will have different views on how a country may be like, but in actuality, the actual image may be surprising. Some reasons as to why Americans may not like the ideaShow MoreRelatedEssay about The Essence Of Pop Culture813 Words   |  4 Pages â€Å"Talk about Pop Music, Talk about Pop Music†¦Ã¢â‚¬  was one of the most catchy phrases of the 1980’s. Just as in the 80’s, today we see many characteristics of â€Å"pop culture† effecting our lives. But, what is â€Å"pop culture?† I spent some time online trying to answer my question and time after time I was led to the same direction: pop culture is what we see, hear, speak, and are otherwise exposed to on a daily basis. 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Caesars Gallic Wars and Vercingetorix

One of Gauls most colorful historical figures is Vercingetorix, who acted as war chief for all the Gallic tribes who were trying to throw off the Roman yoke during the Gallic Wars. Vercingetorix and Caesar are the main figures in Book VII of De Bello Gallico, Caesars narrative about his wars in Gaul, although the Roman allies, the Aedui, also play a large role. This period of revolt follows the earlier Gallic battles at Bibracte, Vosges, and Sabis. By the end of Book VII Caesar has put down the Gallic revolt. The following is a summary of Book VII of De Bello Gallico, with some explanatory notes. Vercingetorix, son of Celtillus, a member of the Gallic tribe of Arverni, sent ambassadors out to Gallic tribes not yet allied with him asking them to join him in his endeavor to get rid of the Romans. By peaceful means or by attacking, he added troops from the Gallic tribes of the Senones (the tribe connected with the band of Gauls responsible for the sack of Rome in 390 B.C.), Parisii, Pictones, Cadurci, Turones, Aulerci, Lemovice, the Ruteni, and others to his own armed forces. Vercingetorix had used the Roman system of demanding hostages to ensure loyalty and ordered a levy of troops from each of these groups. He then took supreme command. He tried to ally the Biturgies, but they resisted and sent ambassadors to the Aedui for help against Vercingetorix. The Biturgies were dependents of the Aedui and the Aedui were allies of Rome (Brothers and Kinsmen of the Roman People 1.33). The Aedui started to help but then turned back perhaps because, as they said, they suspected the Biturgi es of complicity with the Arverni. Perhaps because they lacked the support of the Aedui, the Biturgies gave in to Vercingetorix. It is possible the Aedui already planned to revolt against Rome. When Caesar heard about the alliance, he realized it was a threat, so he left Italy and set out for Transalpine Gaul, a Roman province since 121 B.C., but he didnt have his regular army, although he did have some German cavalry and troops he had in Cisalpine Gaul. He had to figure out how to reach the main forces without putting them in danger. Meanwhile, Vercingetorix ambassador, Lucterius, continued to gain allies. He added the Nitiobriges and Gabali and then headed to Narbo, which was in the Roman province of Transalpine Gaul, so Caesar headed to Narbo, which made Lucterius retreat. Caesar changed his direction and advanced into the territory of the Helvii, then on to the borders of the Arverni. Vercingetorix marched his troops there in order to defend his people. Caesar, no longer able to do without the rest of his forces, left Brutus in command while he went to Vienna where his cavalry was stationed. Next stop was the Aedui, one of Romes main allies in Gaul, and where two of Cae sars legions were wintering. From there, Caesar sent word to the other legions of the danger presented by Vercingetorix, ordering them to come to his assistance ASAP. Vellaunodunum When Vercingetorix learned what Caesar was doing, he headed back to the Biturgies and then to the non-allied Boiian town of Gergovia in order to attack it. Caesar sent ahead messages to the Boii to encourage them to resist. Heading towards the Boii, Caesar left two legions at Agendicum. En route, at the Senones town of Vellaunodunum, Caesar decided to attack so there wouldnt be an enemy on his heels. He also figured he would take the opportunity to gain provisions for his troops. Especially during the winter when there was little to forage, having food could decide the outcome of a battle. Because of this, allied towns that werent potential enemies at ones back might still be destroyed to make sure the enemy army starved or retreated. This is what Vercingetorix would soon develop as one of his main policies. After Caesars troops surrounded Vellaunodunum, the town sent out their ambassadors. Caesar ordered them to surrender their weapons and to bring out their cattle and 600 hostages. With arrangements made and Trebonius left in charge, Caesar set out for Genabum, a Carnute town that had been preparing to send troops to help Vellaunodum fight, Caesar. The Romans pitched camp and when the townspeople tried to escape at night via a bridge across the Loire River, Caesars troops took possession of the town, pillaged and burned it, and then headed across the Loire bridge into the Biturgies territory. Noviodunum This move prompted Vercingetorix to stop his siege of Gergovia. He marched towards Caesar who was beginning a siege of Noviodunum. Noviodunum ambassadors begged Caesar to pardon them and spare them. Caesar ordered their weapons, horses, and hostages. While Caesars men went into town to gather up the arms and horses, Vercingetorix army appeared on the horizon. This inspired the people of Noviodunum to take up arms and shut the gates, backing down from their surrender. Since the people of Noviodunum were going back on their word, Caesar attacked. The town lost a number of men before the town surrendered again. Avaricum Caesar then marched to Avaricum, a well-fortified town in the Biturgies territory. Before responding to this new threat, Vercingetorix called a war council, telling the other leaders that the Romans must be kept from getting provisions. Since it was winter, foraged provisions were hard to come by and the Romans would have to leave. Vercingetorix suggested a scorched-earth policy. If a property lacked a good defense it would be burned. In this way, they destroyed 20 of their own Biturgies towns. The Biturgies begged that Vercingetorix not burn their noblest city, Avaricum. He relented, reluctantly. Vercingetorix then set up camp 15 miles from Avaricum and whenever Caesars men went foraging at a distance, some of Vercingetorix men attacked them. Caesar meanwhile built towers but could not build a wall around the city, as he would have wished, because it was enclosed by rivers and marshes. Caesar besieged the town for 27 days building towers and walls while the Gauls built countering devices. The Romans finally had success with a sudden attack, which frightened many of the Gauls into flight. And so, the Romans entered the town and massacred the inhabitants. About 800 in Caesars reckoning escaped to reach Vercingetorix. Caesars troops found ample provisions, and by this time winter was almost over. Vercingetorix was able to calm the other leaders despite all the recent disasters. Especially in the case of Avaricum, He could say the Romans didnt defeat them by valor but by a new technique the Gauls hadnt seen before, and besides, he might have said, he had wanted to torch Avaricum but had only left it standing because of the pleas of the Biturgies. The allies were appeased and supplied Vercingetorix with replacement troops for those he had lost. He even added allies to his roster, including Teutomarus, the son of Ollovicon, the king of the Nitiobriges, who was a friend of Rome on the basis of a formal treaty (amicitia). Aeduan Revolt The Aedui, Romes allies, came to Caesar with their political problem: their tribe was led by a king who held power for a year, but this year there were two contenders, Cotus and Convitolitanis. Caesar was afraid that if he didnt arbitrate, one side would turn to Vercingetorix for support of its cause, so he stepped in. Caesar decided against Cotus and in favor of Convitolitanis. He then asked the Aedui to send him all their cavalry plus 10,000 infantry. Caesar split his army and gave Labienus 4 legions to lead north, towards the Senones and Parisii while he led 6 legions into Arverni country towards Gergovia, which was on the banks of the Allier. Vercingetorix broke down all bridges over the river, but this proved only a temporary set-back for the Romans. The two armies pitched their camps on opposite banks and Caesar rebuilds a bridge. Caesars men headed to Gergovia. Meanwhile, Convictolitanis, the man Caesar had chosen to be king of the Aedui, treacherously conferred with the Arverni, who told him that the Aeduans holding out was preventing the allied Gauls from being victorious against the Romans. By this time the Gauls realized their freedom was at stake and having the Romans around to arbitrate and help them against other invaders meant the loss of freedom and heavy demands in terms of soldiers and supplies. Between such arguments and bribes made to the Aedui by the allies of Vercingetorix, the Aedui were convinced. One of those in on the discussion was Litavicus, who was put in charge of the infantry being sent to Caesar. He headed towards Gergovia, providing protection for some Roman citizens on the way. When they were near Gergovia, Litavicus riled up his troops against the Romans. He falsely claimed the Romans had killed some of their favorite leaders. His men then tortured and killed the Romans under their protection. Some rode off to th e other Aeduan towns to convince them to resist and avenge themselves on the Romans, as well. Not all Aeduans agreed. One in the company of Caesar learned of Litavicus actions and told Caesar. Caesar then took some of his men with him and rode to the army of the Aedui and presented to them those very men they thought the Romans had killed. The army lay down its arms and submitted themselves. Caesar spared them and marched back towards Gergovia. Gergovia When Caesar finally reached Gergovia, he surprised the inhabitants. At first, all was going well for the Romans in the conflict, but then fresh Gallic troops arrived. Many of Caesars troops did not hear when he called for a retreat. Instead, they continued to fight and try to plunder the city. Many were killed but they still did not stop. Finally, ending the days engagement, Vercingetorix, as the victor, called off the fight for the day when new Roman legions arrived. Adrian Goldsworthy says an estimated 700 Roman soldiers and 46 centurions were killed. Caesar dismissed two important Aeduans, Viridomarus and Eporedorix, who went to the Aeduan town of Noviodunum on the Loire, where they learned that further negotiations were being made between the Aeduans and the Arvernians. They burned the town so the Romans couldnt feed themselves from it and began to build up armed garrisons around the river. When Caesar heard of these developments he thought he should put down the revolt quickly before the armed force grew too large. This he did, and after his troops had surprised the Aeduans, they took the food and cattle they found in the fields and then marched off to the territory of the Senones. Meanwhile, other Gallic tribes heard of the revolt of the Aedui. Caesars very competent legate, Labienus, found himself surrounded by two newly rebelling groups and so needed to move out his troops by stealth. The Gauls under Camulogenus were tricked by his maneuvers and then defeated in a battle where Camulogenus was slain. Labienus then led his men to join Caesar. Meanwhile, Vercingetorix had thousands of cavalry from the Aedui and Segusiani. He sent other troops against the Helvii whom he defeated while he led his mena and allies against the Allobroges. To deal with Vercingetorix attack against the Allobroges, Caesar sent for cavalry and light-armed infantry help from the Germanic tribes beyond the Rhine. Vercingetorix decided the time was right to attack the Roman forces whom he judged to be inadequate in number, as well as encumbered with their baggage. The Arverni and allies divided into three groups to attack. Caesar divided his troops in three, too, and fought back, with the Germans obtaining a hilltop formerly in Arverni possession. The Germans pursued the Gallic enemy to the river where Vercingetorix was stationed with his infantry. When the Germans started to kill the Averni, they fled. Many of Caesars enemies were slaughtered, Vercingetorix cavalry was routed, and some of the tribal leaders were captured. Alesia Vercingetorix then led his army to Alesia. Caesar followed, killing those he could. When they reached Alesia, the Romans surrounded the hilltop city. Vercingetorix sent out mounted troops to go to their tribes to round up all those old enough to bear arms. They were able to ride through the places where the Romans hadnt yet completed their fortification. The fortifications were not just a means to contain those within. The Romans put torturous devices on the outside that could injure an army pressing against it. The Romans needed some to gather timber and food. Others worked on building the fortifications, which meant Caesars troop strength was diminished. Because of this, there were skirmishes, although Vercingetorix was waiting for Gallic allies to join him before a full-fledged fight against Caesars army. The Arvernian allies sent fewer than asked, but still, a great number of troops, to Alesia where they believed the Romans would easily be defeated by the Gallic troops on two fronts, from within Alesia and from those newly arriving. The Romans and Germans stationed themselves both inside their fortifications to fight those in the city and outside to fight the newly arriving army. The Gauls from outside attacked at night by throwing things from a distance and alerting Vercingetorix to their presence. The next day the allies came closer and many were injured on the Roman fortifications, so they withdrew. The next day, the Gauls attacked from both sides. A few Roman cohorts left the fortifications and circled round to the rear of the outer enemy whom they surprised and slaughtered when they tried to flee. Vercingetorix saw what had happened and gave up, surrendering himself and his weapons. Later Vercingetorix would be displayed as a prize in Caesars triumph of 46 B.C. Caesar, generous to the Aedui and Arverni, distributed Gallic captives so that every soldier throughout the army received one as plunder. Source: The Gallic Menace in Caesars Propaganda, by Jane F. Gardner Greece Rome  © 1983.