Wednesday, May 6, 2020

Cabalgata Essay Example For Students

Cabalgata Essay CABALGATADo you think riding on a horse eight hours for three days is relaxing and exciting? Poeple that enjoy horseback riding think so. The â€Å"Cabalgata† in the Northern part of Mexico is a long, exciting, and relaxing horsetrail. This horsetrail is relaxing for most people because they get off work for three days and drink with their friends. This trail is made for men only, but girls are allowed to join in with them the last day. This event doesn’t have an age requirement, but most participants are between the ages of 16-60. Most of the time young children are accompanied by their father. In this event, every year the amount of people that participate changes from 120-500 riders on this event. Hores riders are mainly from Acua and pretty much know each other. Friends sign up and get together to interact amongst others. In the Northern part of Mexico two Cabalgata’s are held each year. One is â€Å"Acua† and the other is â€Å"Sabinas.† This event doesn’t have a specific date; however, the Cabalgata in Sabinas is usually held on Labor Day weekend. In Acua it is usually held on the first week of October. The Cabalgata I’m going to talk about is the one held in Acua, that lasts for three days and three nights. The year I went, day one and two were about 50 kilometers long, while day three was only 20 kilometers. The last day is always shorter so that the girls can ride along with the guys. The word Cabalgar in Spanish means â€Å"horseback riding.† That’s the reason why this event is called Cabalgata. This event is organized by an individual that lives in Acua. The person that organizes this goes through a lot of hard work. First, he has to schedule a meeting to check how many people are willing to go. If there is not enough people, there is no point to continue on with the organization. If people are interested, the planner finds a route that is possible to take. Second, he needs a starting point that is about 120 kilometers from Acua so the Cabalgantes (riders) can ride from there back to Acua. Third, he needs to get permission from the owners of the ranches which Cabalgantes will pass through and get the keys to the gates. Fourth, he needs to find a place where the Cabalgantes can sleep and which have corrals to let the horses rest. This event has charge to it, an entry fee that each individual has to pay. It is not always the same because each year their is a different number of people that participate and a different route that is used. The cost of this event covers everything, which includes food, beverages, and food and transportation for the horses, from Acua to the starting point. The only thing that Cabalgantes need to take is their clothes and sleeping bags. The first night all the Cabalgantes arrive at the ranch which is the starting point. We get there at about 6 p.m and dinner is served. We eat dinner and everyone begins to drink. The first day is the craziest day because everyone is excited about the upcoming events. In 1996, when I got to go, the older people slept in a trailer (parade trailer). It was funny because they started joking around about all the guys sleeping together. Sixteen guys slept on that trailer, all bunched together. Some other people slept inside the ranch house on the living room floor, bed rooms, and any place else where there was space. If you walked around the house you weren’t able to see the floor. Most of the younger guys slept outside on sleeping bags. in 1996, when I went, at about 6:00 a.m (Day 1) people started waking up, eating breakfast, and saddling up their horses. At about 7:00 a.m, everyone headed out on the trail. All the Cabalgantes followed the leader (organizer) towards point two where we stayed the second night. We rode horses from 7:00 p.m to about 3:00 p.m. Sometimes it would be less depending on the speed that we traveled and the amount of times that we stopped. On the way to point two, everbody talked to one another and drank beer. On this trail, a horse trailer followed in case people got weary and want to take a break. Another truck had coolers full of beer. This truck gets ahead of everyone and stops, so when the Cabalgantes pass by they throw them their beer or soft drinks. Also, while everyone was on the trail, people made bets . They bet on horse races. The race consists of two Cabalgantes that go to the back of the line and race all the way to the front. The people in the back yell â€Å"Habran Camino!† This phrase means to clear the way. People then move to the sides so that the riders can pass through. In 1996, I raced 6 times and I won every time. I had the fastest horse out of all the Cabalgantes. A friend of mine that bet against my uncle won a hundred dollars betting on my horse. Everyone on that trip from that day on called me â€Å"Jockey.†When we arrived at point two, we ate a good meal. After our meal, we took showers and then naps, or vice-versa. Around 8:00 p.m., people continue to drink and play cards or domino’s. Many just get together and talk. This is the relaxing part of this trip for these elder people the trip is like being at the beach for us younger guys, because they’re away from work and they don’t have as much in their mind to worry about. Itâ₠¬â„¢s like a long weekend when no one has to worry about homework or anything like that. .u24664d8808af34c46dbbc75df2c7bb16 , .u24664d8808af34c46dbbc75df2c7bb16 .postImageUrl , .u24664d8808af34c46dbbc75df2c7bb16 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u24664d8808af34c46dbbc75df2c7bb16 , .u24664d8808af34c46dbbc75df2c7bb16:hover , .u24664d8808af34c46dbbc75df2c7bb16:visited , .u24664d8808af34c46dbbc75df2c7bb16:active { border:0!important; } .u24664d8808af34c46dbbc75df2c7bb16 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u24664d8808af34c46dbbc75df2c7bb16 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u24664d8808af34c46dbbc75df2c7bb16:active , .u24664d8808af34c46dbbc75df2c7bb16:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u24664d8808af34c46dbbc75df2c7bb16 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u24664d8808af34c46dbbc75df2c7bb16 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u24664d8808af34c46dbbc75df2c7bb16 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u24664d8808af34c46dbbc75df2c7bb16 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u24664d8808af34c46dbbc75df2c7bb16:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u24664d8808af34c46dbbc75df2c7bb16 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u24664d8808af34c46dbbc75df2c7bb16 .u24664d8808af34c46dbbc75df2c7bb16-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u24664d8808af34c46dbbc75df2c7bb16:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Lacrosse: The Beginning Essay Day two is similar to day one. We woke up at the same time and ride horses for about 50 kilometers. The only difference is that since we’re about 20 kilometers from home, a mariachi comes to the ranch and plays music (Ranchera). This night is the funnest night because people sing with the mariachi. A mariachi is a group of people who play music with their big guitars, trumphets, and so on. People compete with each other to see who sings better. The older men drink heavely. I think they do this scince they are about to go home and they can’t do that in front of their younger children or wife. The next morning (Day 3) is when the girls show up. This day is calmer than the first two and beer is not given out until the destination, because it’s respectful not to drink in front of young ladies. On this day, everyone has to wear white shirts with cowboy hats. This is an obligation, because at the end of the trail, we got to a ranch outside Acua, and our family members receive us and we ate lunch with our family and our friends. Also, when we got there, we took pictures. After a great delicious lunch is when everyone goes home and rests comfortably in their beds. In conclusion, this Cabalgata is very exciting and relaxing. We get off work for three days and communicate with our friends or people you meet. So, are you up for this event? Would you go horseback riding 8 hours for three days? You should try and make it a good experience.

Monday, May 4, 2020

Mending a broken heart is never easy Essay Example For Students

Mending a broken heart is never easy Essay Bess Myerson once wrote that to fall in love is awfully simple, but to fall out of love is simply awful. Especially if you are the one who wanted the relationship to last. Mending a broken heart is never easy. There is no quick way to stop your heart from hurting so much. To stop loving isnt an option. Author Henri Nouwen writes, When those you love deeply reject you, leave you, or die, your heart will be broken. But that should not hold you back from loving deeply. The pain that comes from deep love makes your love ever more fruitful. But how do we get beyond the pain Here are 10 tips Ive gathered from experts and from conversations with friends on how they patched up their heart and tried, ever so gradually, to move on. 1. Go through it, not around it. I realize the most difficult task for a person with a broken heart is to stand still and feel the crack. But that is exactly what she must do. Because no shortcut is without its share of obstructions. Heres a simple fact You have to grieve in order to move on. During the 18 months of my severe depression, my therapist repeated almost every visit Go through it. Not around it. Because if I went around some of the issues that were tearing me apart inside, then I would bump into them somewhere down the line, just like being caught in the center of a traffic circle. By going through the intense pain, I eventually surfaced as a stronger person ready to tackle problems head on. Soon the pain lost its stronghold over me. 2. Detach and revel in your independence again. Attempting to fill the void yourself without rushing to a new relationship or trying desperately to win your lover back is essentially what detaching is all about. The Buddha taught that attachment that leads to suffering. So the most direct path to happiness and peace is detachment. In his book, Eastern Wisdom for Western Minds, Victor M. Parachin tells a wonderful story about an old gardener who sought advice from a monk. Writes Parachin Great Monk, let me ask you How can I attain liberation The Great Monk replied Who tied you up This old gardener answered Nobody tied me up. The Great Monk said Then why do you seek liberation One of the most liberating thoughts I repeat to myself when Im immersed in grief and sadness is this I dont need anyone or anything to make me happy. When Im experiencing the intense pangs of grief, it is so difficult to trust that I can be whole without that person in my life. But I have learned over and over again that I can. I really can. It is my job to fill the emptiness, and I can do it creatively, and with the help of my higher power. 3. List your strengths. As I wrote in my 12 Ways to Keep Going post, a technique that helps me when I feel raw and defeated to try anymore is to list my strengths. I say to myself, Self, you have been sober for 20 years Weaklings cant pull off that And here you are, alive, after those 18 months of intense suicidal thoughts. Plus you havent smoked a cigarette since that funeral back in December of last year I say all of that while listening to the Rocky soundtrack, and by the last line, Im ready to tackle my next challenge move on from this sadness and try to be a productive individual in this world. If you cant list your strengths, start a self-esteem file. Click here to learn how you build one. 4. Allow some fantasizing. Grief wouldnt be the natural process that it should be without some yearning for the person you just lost. .u8c79a30d9d3b9ee970da395909318484 , .u8c79a30d9d3b9ee970da395909318484 .postImageUrl , .u8c79a30d9d3b9ee970da395909318484 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u8c79a30d9d3b9ee970da395909318484 , .u8c79a30d9d3b9ee970da395909318484:hover , .u8c79a30d9d3b9ee970da395909318484:visited , .u8c79a30d9d3b9ee970da395909318484:active { border:0!important; } .u8c79a30d9d3b9ee970da395909318484 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u8c79a30d9d3b9ee970da395909318484 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u8c79a30d9d3b9ee970da395909318484:active , .u8c79a30d9d3b9ee970da395909318484:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u8c79a30d9d3b9ee970da395909318484 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u8c79a30d9d3b9ee970da395909318484 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u8c79a30d9d3b9ee970da395909318484 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u8c79a30d9d3b9ee970da395909318484 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u8c79a30d9d3b9ee970da395909318484:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u8c79a30d9d3b9ee970da395909318484 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u8c79a30d9d3b9ee970da395909318484 .u8c79a30d9d3b9ee970da395909318484-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u8c79a30d9d3b9ee970da395909318484:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: This is a music review of Arjona's song if the north EssayDr. Christine Whelan, who writes the Pure Sex, Pure Column on BustedHalo. com, explains the logic of allowing a bit of fantasy. She writes If you are trying to banish a sexual fantasy from your head, telling yourself Im not going to fantasize about her or I wont think about what it would be like to be intimate with him might make it worse In a famous psychological study from the 1980s, a group of subjects were told to think about anything but whatever they did, they were not supposed to think about a white bear. Guess what they all thought about A white bear. 5. Help someone else. When Im in pain, the only guaranteed antidote to my suffering is to box up all of my feelings, sort them, and then try to find a use for them. Thats why writing Beyond Blue contributes a big chunk to my recovery, why moderating Group Beyond Blue has me excited to wake up every day. When you turn your attention to another person especially someone who is struggling with the same kind of pain you forget about yourself for a split moment. And lets face it, that, on some days, feels like a miracle. 6. Laugh. And cry. Laughter heals on many levels as I explain in my 9 Ways Humor Heals post, and so does crying. You think its just a coincidence that you always feel better after a good cry Nope, there are many physiological reasons that contribute to the healing power of tears. Some of them have been documented by biochemist William Frey who has spent 15 years as head of a research team studying tears. Among their findings is that emotional tears (as compared to tears of irritation, like when you cut an onion) contain toxic biochemical byproducts, so that weeping removes these toxic substances and relieves emotional stress. So go grab a box of Kleenex and cry your afternoon away. . Make a good and bad list. You need to know which activities will make you feel good, and which ones will make you want to toilet paper your ex-lovers home (or apartment). You wont really know which activity belongs on which list until you start trying things, but I suspect that things like checking out his wall on Facebook and seeing that he has just posted a photo of his gorgeous new girlfriend is not going to make you feel good, so put that on the dont attempt list, along with e-mails and phone calls to his buddies fishing for information about him. On the feels peachy list might be found such ventures as deleting all of his e-mails and voicemails, pawning off the jewelry he gave you (using the cash for a much-needed massage), laughing over coffee with a new friend who doesnt know him from Adam (to ensure his name wont come up). 8. Work it out. Working out your grief quite literally by running, swimming, exercising, walking, or kick-boxing is going to give you immediate relief. On a physiological level because exercise increases the activity of serotonin and/or norepinehrine and stimulates brain chemicals that foster growth of nerve cells but also on an emotional level, because you are taking charge and becoming the master of your mind and body. Plus you can visualize the fellow who is responsible for your pain and you can kick him in the face. Now doesnt that feel good 9. Create a new world. This is especially important if your world has collided with his, meaning that mutual friends who have seen him in the last week feel the need to tell you about it. Create your own safe world full of new friends who wouldnt recognize him in a crowd and dont know how to spell his name where he is not allowed to drop by for a figurative or literal surprise visit. Take this opportunity to try something new scuba diving lessons, an art class, a book club, a blog so to program your mind and body to expect a fresh beginning without him (or her). 10. Find hope. Theres a powerful quote in the movie The Tale of Despereaux that Ive been thinking about ever since I heard it There is one emotion that is stronger than fear, and that is forgiveness. .u442ec0800236fb9d605162dd33c807e3 , .u442ec0800236fb9d605162dd33c807e3 .postImageUrl , .u442ec0800236fb9d605162dd33c807e3 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u442ec0800236fb9d605162dd33c807e3 , .u442ec0800236fb9d605162dd33c807e3:hover , .u442ec0800236fb9d605162dd33c807e3:visited , .u442ec0800236fb9d605162dd33c807e3:active { border:0!important; } .u442ec0800236fb9d605162dd33c807e3 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u442ec0800236fb9d605162dd33c807e3 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u442ec0800236fb9d605162dd33c807e3:active , .u442ec0800236fb9d605162dd33c807e3:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u442ec0800236fb9d605162dd33c807e3 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u442ec0800236fb9d605162dd33c807e3 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u442ec0800236fb9d605162dd33c807e3 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u442ec0800236fb9d605162dd33c807e3 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u442ec0800236fb9d605162dd33c807e3:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u442ec0800236fb9d605162dd33c807e3 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u442ec0800236fb9d605162dd33c807e3 .u442ec0800236fb9d605162dd33c807e3-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u442ec0800236fb9d605162dd33c807e3:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: The Effect of Music in a Developing Fetus EssayI suppose thats why, at my fathers deathbed, the moment of reconciliation between us made me less scared to lose him. But forgiveness requires hope believing that a better place exists, that the aching emptiness experienced in your every activity wont be with you forever, that one day youll be excited to make coffee in the morning or go to a movie with friends. Hope is believing that the sadness can evaporate, that if you try like hell to move on with your life, your smile wont always be forced. Therefore in order to forgive and to move past fear, you need to find hope. And remember to love again Once our hearts are bruised and burned from a relationship that ended, we have two options we can close off pieces of our heart so that one day no one will be able to get inside. Or we can love again. Deeply, just as intensely as we did before. Henri Nouwen urges to love again because the heart only expands with the love we are able to pour forth. He writes The more you have loved and have allowed yourself to suffer because of your love, the more you will be able to let your heart grow wider and deeper. When your love is truly giving and receiving, those whom you love will not leave your heart even when they depart from you. The pain of rejection, absence, and death can become fruitful. Yes, as you love deeply the ground of your heart will be broken more and more, but you will rejoice in the abundance of the fruit it will bear.

Monday, March 30, 2020

Smartest Guys in the Room

Introduction Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room was a documentary film showing the real story of the largest business scandal in the U.S. where top executive officers in Enron Corporation squandered over one billion American dollars while the Corporation investors and employees lost everything. Enron Corporation was a leading commodity, and Service Company established in Houston, Texas.Advertising We will write a custom case study sample on Smartest Guys in the Room specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More It was the seventh largest companies at the time. The executive officers included Ken Lay, the CEO, Chief Operating Officer, Jeffrey Skilling, Chief Financial Officer, Andy Fastow and the Accounting Firm, Arthur Andersen. The film was based on the 2003 award-winning book, The Smartest Guys in the Room by Fortune reporters, Bethany McLean and Peter Elkind. It also featured insider accounts and fire-raising corporate videotapes audios, interviews with former Enron executives and employees, reporters, former Governor of California and stock analysts. The film significantly examined the collapse of Enron Corporation in 2001. It showed how smart and powerful men were driven by greed, which brought shame to themselves and severely affected innocent investors and employees (Gibney 1). In 2006, the film was nominated for Best Documentary Feature and consequently won the Independent Spirit Award for Best Documentary Feature. Enron Natural Gas Pipeline Company was formed in 1985 as a result of the merger of Houston and Omaha, Nebraska’s and InterNorth, natural-gas companies. By 2000, Enron Natural Gas Pipeline Company had grown and dominated the North America natural gas industry and Jeff Skilling pioneered its expansion to a different range of products that included coal, steel, and water. This resulted to skyrocketing of the company’s stocks and Jeff Skilling was considerably named CEO of the company. Many people invested in the company and with the increase in the range of products, and consequently, the number of employees had to be increased. Meanwhile, Skilling accounting results put Enron’s earnings at 53 million dollars a deal with no profits (Independent Lens 1). Summary of what happened at Enron Jeff Skilling declared the company’s earnings of $53 million dollars in a deal that yielded no profits. Essentially Enron faked its bookkeeping to report profits that never existed. The company operated on corrupt and closely-guarded mismanagement by Enron executive officers.Advertising Looking for case study on art and design? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Enron came up with a scheme to artificially increase electricity demand at the West Coast. As a result, many California citizens experienced blackouts, and unfortunately, two people lost their lives while Enron’s West Coast desk pocketed huge profits. E nron also used ghost companies to hide the massive company losses that later toppled the company. Enron crafted to sell products that did not exist and its balance sheets never balanced. Inexperienced and innocent employees who had dedicated their financial lives to Enron were surprised when Enron Corporation experienced prolonged fallout without their knowledge. About 20,000 employees lost their jobs. The company’s insurance covers crashed, Enron stocks and retirement accounts were equally devalued with urgency. Similarly, many criminal accusations were prosecuted against several Enron company’s top executive officers. Additionally, Arthur Andersen’s accounting firm collapsed, the 2006 convictions of Ken Lay, Jeffrey Skilling and Chief Financial Officer, Andy Fastow also fell. This was followed by the death of Ken Lay the CEO, two months later. Organization-related Problems at Enron Organizational related problems are the problems that come up from a group†™s influence. They include the shared beliefs and shared values. Being a well-established company, Enron ought to have had proper records, book keeping, financial statements open to public scrutiny and compliant with all financial standards. Though Enron was applauded for being innovative, it had various organizational problems. Because Enron was dealing with many cash transactions, entered into future contracts, and acted as a bank for many commodities, it was necessary for them to generate cash flows which they never did. Their reliance on borrowed cash for their dairy transactions was not a good organization technique. Enron similarly dealt with inexperienced employees, credits, debts and diverse businesses instead of being specific, which brought about organization problems. The idea of Enron dealing with all types of businesses both simple and complex made it impossible for employees to have the required expertise hence resulting to organizational problems. The entry of Enron into trading activities that were unfamiliar to the employees was an organization problem. As trading expanded, Enron’s, financial status became complex, and unfortunately, they abandoned budgetary controls. The organized structure and policy of Enron clearly did not prevent unscrupulous activities like the artificial electricity scheme (GUIDESTAR 1).Advertising We will write a custom case study sample on Smartest Guys in the Room specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Enron did not have a mission or a strategic plan, and that can be viewed as an organization lapse. The top management and auditors of Enron were not professionally and psychologically up to the huge task in the company and were more concerned with earnings and hence could not realize eminent business risks (Cunningham and Harris 33). Root cause of the organizational problems, values, ethical, reward systems, perceptions and leadership Many companies like Enron ha ve voluntary codes of ethics that prohibit executives from being involved in other business entities that do business with the company they are working for. However, the executive officers of Enron chose not to follow this code of ethics. Enron executives, like some other companies, were allowed to manage their own employee pension funds, which unfortunately, they messed up. The diverse businesses involved in by Enron left no space for specialization and expertise hence creating organizational problems. The schemes and conspiracies developed by Enron’s executives were unethical and poor show of leadership traits. The fact that Enron hired and paid its own auditors brought a conflict of interest into the legal and financial system which created an organizational problem. The legal and regulatory structure that allowed firms like Arthur Andersen to provide both consulting and auditing services developed a conflict of interest and thus resulting to an organizational problem. The senior management at Enron did not receive extensive ethical training and as such did not have enough knowledge to arrive at concrete decisions. Corporate governance and leadership solely relied on the state of mind, will power and personal relationships of management. However, rules were skillfully, cunningly and willfully ignored though they were in place. The fact that the law left considerable discretion to managers and executives to exercise their own business judgment about what was in the best interests of the company, enabled the executive officers of Enron to mismanage and practice corruption. Finally, the shareholders of Enron were not allowed to vet the management of the organization (Markkula Centre for Applied Ethics 1). Detailed Analysis of the Problems Identified Every corporate organization operates under its own set of code of ethics. The code of ethics details how employees, employers and company business should be transacted. Once this code of ethics is followed, smooth running of a company is guaranteed.Advertising Looking for case study on art and design? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More However, since this code is voluntary, top management in most cases ignore it and hence create organizational problems in a company. The executive officers in Enron ignored the code of ethics and conspired, mismanaged and engaged in corrupt activities that crushed the company. Training of management team and employees ensures a good understanding of the business and required expertise. However, no such training was offered or sought in Enron, and thus it can be said that employees did not understand the newly introduced trading activities in the organization. The diverse business activities deny a company a sense of specialization and hence no mission. This leads in business being executed in any way and thus there is no perfection. The loopholes in the legal framework are used by the wise to defraud companies. The fact that the law allowed the senior management to make personal decisions they saw fit for the company, also gave them a chance to do the opposite. Hence, the law can pr otect or be used to suit the highly ranked in a company. Senior management should at all times demonstrate good governance in a company where the interest of the company should come before personal interests. In a situation where personal gains prevail, the shareholders and employees feel the wrath as in the case of Enron. Conflict of interest destroys all company plans. In a position where an auditor is hired and paid by the management, chances of auditors giving decisions that suit the employer are high. External auditors are recommended in a public company to display the true financial position of a company. Organization behavior theories that led to problems at Enron and how they relate to the Event at Enron Organization behavior theories relate to ethics that dictate how companies should be run. For many years, philosophers have in literature stated and analyzed different theories that form the basis for ethics in business. Technological theories of ethics put more emphasis on the results of an action and can be classified into egoism and utilitarianism. In this case, egoism defines what is correct and what is wrong with respect to oneself. In such a case, when required to give any business decision, an egoist will put self-interest first. This theory is believed to lead to illegal behavior. In the case of Enron, the management put self first in the west coast where they leaped a lot of profits as employees lost their jobs while some lost their lives due to the artificial electricity demand scheme. Utilitarianism theory, on the other hand, puts more emphasis on the overall amount of good that might be produced by an action or a decision. In this case, a company might decide to expand its business physically or across the borders. Utilitarianism will analyze the amount of good that can be derived from this action. In the case of Enron, the management decided to introduce other trading activities like coal and water on top of the initial natural-gas busines s. This act was well rewarded since Enron stocks skyrocketed to generate high revenues in a short period of time. Deontological theories of ethics put more emphasis on: the rights of all individuals, and the intentions of the person(s) performing an action. It cannot harm some to benefit others but treats all equally. In the case of Enron Corporation, the government declared the corporation bankrupt, prosecuted all that mismanaged the company and participated in corrupt deals that severely affected the employees and investors. By doing this, it treated everybody accordingly. A Justice-based theory of ethics is concerned with the perception of fairness of actions. To determine the fairness of an action; distributive, procedural, and/or interaction rules are used. A just action treats all fairly and consistently in accordance with the set ethical or legal standards. In the case of Enron Corporation event, the court delivered justice on the criminal proceedings against the corrupt mana gement officials and the accounting firm. Relativism theory of ethics dictates that there are no universal principles of ethics and that right and wrong must be determined by each individual or group. It observes that standards of right and wrong may change with time and cultures. And hence the rights and wrongs are subject to interpretation (Barnett 1). Conclusion Any of the above listed problems will obviously befall a company if not checked well in advance. Enron Corporation was highly affected by organizational problems to the point of a closure and bankruptcy declaration of their accounting firm. The schemes demonstrated by the management were a sign of poor leadership, bad governance, greed for money, and self-centeredness. Mismanagement affects the employees, investors and the management itself. In the case of Enron, more than 20, 000 lost their jobs, two people died out of the faked electricity demand, senior management was taken to court, investors encountered losses, accou nting firm declared bankrupt and the sudden fall of Enron Corporation. But since some of these problems are due to ignorance, lack of personal will to do right, bending the law, and selfish interests, personal conscience and good governance are required to protect the interests of all in a company. Governments should prescribe stiff penalties for all forms of mismanagement, corruption and conspiracy in a public owned company. As of such, managers and directors in such companies should be vetted before assuming management positions to ensure transparency and professionalism. Works Cited Barnett, Tim. Ethics, Reference for business, Encyclopedia of business. Reference for Business, 2011. Web. Cunningham, Gary and Harris Jean. â€Å"Enron and Arthur Andersen: The Case of the Crooked E and the Fallen A.† Global Perspectives on Accounting Education 3.1 (2006): 27-48. Gibney, Alex. Enron The Smartest Guys In The Room. HDNET FILMS, 2005. Film. GUIDESTAR. How Ethical Is Your Nonprofi t Organization? GUIDESTAR, 2011. Web. Independent Lens. Enron: the smartest guys in the room. Public Broadcasting Service, 2011. Web. Markkula Centre for Applied Ethics. What Really Went Wrong With Enron? Santa Clara University, 2011. Web. This case study on Smartest Guys in the Room was written and submitted by user Ember Waller to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Saturday, March 7, 2020

Coke Vs. Pepsi Case Study Essays - Patent Medicines, Marketing

Coke Vs. Pepsi Case Study Essays - Patent Medicines, Marketing Coke Vs. Pepsi Case Study Control of market share is the key issue in this case study. The situation is both Coke and Pepsi are trying to gain market share in this beverage market, which is valued at over $30 billion a year (98). Just how is this done in such a competitive market is the underlying issue. The facts are that each company is coming up with new products and ideas in order to increase their market share. The creativity and effectiveness of each company's marketing strategy will ultimately determine the winner with respect to sales, profits, and customer loyalty (98). Not only are these two companies constructing new ways to sell Coke and Pepsi, but they are also thinking of ways in which to increase market share in other beverage categories. Although the goal of both companies are exactly the same, the two companies rely on somewhat different marketing strategies (98). Pepsi has always taken the lead in developing new products, but Coke soon learned their lesson and started to do the same. Coke hired marketing executives with good track records (98). Coke also implemented cross training of managers so it would be more difficult for cliques to form within the company (98). On the other hand, Pepsi has always taken more risks, acted rapidly, and was always developing new ad vertising ideas. Both companies have also relied on finding new markets, especially in foreign countries. In the foreign markets, Coke has been more successful than Pepsi. For example, in Eastern Europe, Pepsi has relied on a barter system that proved to fail. However, in certain countries that allow direct comparison, Pepsi has beat Coke. In foreign markets, both companies have followed the marketing concept by offering products that meet consumer needs (99) in order to gain market share. For instance, in certain countries, consumers wanted a soft drink that was low in sugar, yet did not have a diet taste or image (99). Pepsi responded by developing Pepsi Max. These companies in trying to capture market share have relied on the development of new products. In some cases the products have been successful. However, at other times the new products have failed. For Coke, changing their original formula and introducing it as New Coke was a major failure. The new formula hurt Coke as consumers requested Classic Cokes return. Pepsi has also had its share of failures. Some of their failures included: Pepsi Light, Pepsi Free, Pepsi AM, and Crystal Pepsi. One solution to increasing market share is to carefully follow consumer wants in each country. The next step is to take fast action to develop a product that meets the requirements for that particular region. Both companies cannot just sell one product; if they do they will not succeed. They have to always be creating and updating their marketing plans and products. The companies must be willing to accommodate their target markets. Gaining market share occurs when a company stays one-step ahead of the competition by knowing what the consumer wants. My recommendation is to make sure the company is always doing market research. This way they are able to get as much feedback as possible from consumers. Next, analyze this data as fast as possible, and then develop the new product based upon this data. Once the product is developed, get it to the marketplace quickly. Time is a very critical factor. In my opinion, with all of these factors taken into consideration any company should give any company a good jump on market share.

Thursday, February 20, 2020

The National Curriculum, and Bilingualism - A Review and Summary of Essay

The National Curriculum, and Bilingualism - A Review and Summary of Mitchell, Hooper and Brumfit (1994) - Essay Example These areas were meant to see the relationship between pupils’ developing understanding of language and language learning. In the end it is concluded that given the fragmented and episodic nature of mush AL work, its full potential contribution to pupils’ development as language users is not being realized. Suggestions for improvement are made. The project carried out in the case that is being reviewed has been initially taken into consideration for research as the strong curriculum debates about â€Å"Knowledge about language† (KAL) have taken place. This term implies that pupils’ learning language in formal setting started to acquire some explicit understandings and knowledge of the nature of language as well as the development of practical language skills were debated to be needed. Therefore, researches of the project that is being reviewed have found it reasonable to review the range of rationales which have been advanced in recent years in support of this position and to provide review of two important findings about teaching of English and of foreign languages. Overall these projects revealed substantial levels of KAL-related activity in English and foreign languages, and some suggestions of its positive contribution to learning, especially for control and planning in writing. The case study that is being reviewed is well organized and consists of several parts that cohesively complete a new investigation about knowledge of language. After Abstract, and executive summary, authors provide acknowledgement to those who were helpful to complete the research. Primary thanks are made to several teachers of English and Modern Language as well as to their 9-year classes, who gave access to visit lessons and thus to willingly share the thought and achievements with researches of the study. Also thanks are made to ESRC who funded the project and for the general encouragement to think in a cross-curricular framework which came

Tuesday, February 4, 2020

Opportunity #6 Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Opportunity #6 - Assignment Example This positioning would allow carbon atoms binding together for formation of molecules that may not be easy to construct, with different reactions or circumstances.(Helmenstine, 2010) The reactions, thus made possible by these scientists have opened the gates of science to create complex chemical substances, which may be seen as creation of nature, otherwise. The principals of carbon-based organic chemistry are responsible for the exciting natural phenomenon, which forms the basis of life. This includes, colors in flowers, snake poisoning, among others. Taking cue from nature’s chemistry, human-kind has tried to perform chemical reactions, which use the potential of carbon for providing the basis for creating functional molecules. Such development in chemistry has given mankind new medicines and revolutionary materials, like plastics. For creating such complex reactions, scientists require the ability to join the carbon atoms together. However, carbon being stable, the carbon atoms do not react with each other easily, as their stable nature does not allow them to do so, under normal circumstances. Accordingly, several methods were tried for binding the carbon atoms together, which included techniques that could make carbon more active. The test tube reactions, conducted for this purpose, could develop simpler molecules. However, for creating complex carbon molecules, the scientists’ synthesis processes towards the same, gave several unwanted by-products. Therefore, the winning reactions of the three Nobel Prize winners solved this problem, as palladium-catalyzed cross coupling provided an efficient tool for getting the precise results. The basis of this reaction is the meeting of carbon atoms on a palladium atom, which brings them closer to each other, for starting the required chemical reaction. While palladium-catalyzed cross coupling reactions find extensive use for many industries, their advantages for the electronics industry is the most

Monday, January 27, 2020

Assess The Contribution Of Summitry To Diplomacy Politics Essay

Assess The Contribution Of Summitry To Diplomacy Politics Essay Summit diplomacy is an irreversible phenomenon that is not alien to contemporary diplomacy. It has been an ongoing practice as far back as diplomatic activity has been in practice. Summit diplomacy has its roots in the new diplomacy i.e. diplomacy in the democratic age between open governments (Dunn, 2004, p. 140a). It has evolved and developed over the centuries and as such, much attention is given to it. Recently there has been an upsurge on it which is due to the fact that it is no longer done on low level but now common place and referred to as high level diplomacy. Amongst other advantages, Leguey-Feilluex states that the primary advantage of summits is that it involves the leaders that are directly responsible for making policies (2009, p. 294). In as much as it has been celebrated for its benefits, there is a lot of controversy surrounding this practice; diplomacy at the summit level has been highly disdained by diplomats because of the claim that it relegates their roles. It has also been said that it could be a waste of time, effort, and resources. Even though summitry can be detrimental to diplomacy if not properly organised, I believe that if judiciously prepared, summits will come to be appreciated and accepted as a method of conducting diplomacy. This essay is an attempt to explore or delve into the depths of the concept of summitry diplomacy, and in this process unearth some information about it, also to examine the contribution of summitry to diplomatic practice. What is Summitry In contemporary times, a method of conducting foreign relations is evolving, as times go by, this method is waxing stronger and is known summit diplomacy and this has brought in its wake, a wave of arguments for and against this new global development in international relations. However it is a misunderstanding in history to regard it as a new phenomenon (Plischke, 1974, p. 43) since it has been in practice far longer than it has been popular. The earliest record of the usage of the term summitry came into play when Sir Winston Churchill popularised it in the 1950s by introducing it into international parlance. Summitry as a term was therefore coined by Winston Churchill, Even as a term that was coined then, it is however a point to note that the practice has been in for a longer time. In fact, it dates back to the fifteenth century. This fact begs the question; if it is a practice that is not new, why is it being popular in these times? The best answer to that would be because of the way summitry is being conducted. These days- it is more frequent and at a higher level (Dunn, 1996, p. 4b). Summitry is a process wherein political leaders take diplomacy into their own hands instead of leaving it to the professional diplomats; leaders, heads of state, prime ministers, presidents, monarchs, all come together to discuss issues of foreign relations. According to Plischke, summit diplomacy may be: interpreted as the determination and publicizing of foreign policy and the management of international affairs at the chief of state or head of state level (1967, p. 43). I would like to point out that in order to effectively conceptualise summitry, it will be appropriate to take into consideration different features of summits; the first is the fact that summits are organised between countries of a higher class, i.e. between groups of the same class, secondly, summitry is for reaching agreements. In addition, a summit can be differentiated from other forms of direct personal diplomacy among political leaders such as correspondence, telephone conversations or direct talks e. g. video conferencing (Melissen, 2004, p. 188). Over the years, summitry has evolved greatly and it is due to so many factors of which I will be pointing out some of them. Dunn, states that summitry grew out of crisis, especially political crisis, when governments and states were facing tough times; the need to meet, dialogue and reach agreements on very salient issues with other heads of government arose, governments needed to deal with crisis and decided to take matters into their own hands. Summitry then, had to do with a bit of urgency (1996, p. 5b) Another important factor for the development of summit diplomacy was growing interdependence of the world economy; the world has economically grown closer as financial markets, corporations, and banks have all become multinational, and because resources are unevenly scattered and no country possess all the resources they need to survive, therefore countries must come together to trade in order to sustain their economy. For example, petroleum is shipped from Africa to major energy-importing regions such as the United States, thus the growth of global economic interdependence, and consequently the spread of summit diplomacy (Dunn, 1996, p. 12b). Dunn also states that summitry has also developed as a result of technological inventions, breakthroughs and advancement. Technology has progressed at an accelerated rate and has been profound during the twentieth century which has greatly improved the pace and method of conducting foreign relations. The revolution in technology transformed the very nature of diplomacy itself which meant heads of state, foreign ministers and other important officials could now make intercontinental trips in such a short time as opposed to long trips which sometimes took days or weeks. Also, in the aspect of communication, mobile phones, video conferencing and other electronic means has increased the rate with which diplomatic negotiations take place (1996, p. 6b). Furthermore, summitry developed due to the importance of the media and public opinion in international affairs. This development has sought the need for political leaders to become much more transparent in their dealings. The summit is thus not only the expression of the direct political ties between the leader and his people; the political leader is also perceived as the diplomat-in-chief (Melissen, 2004, p. 194). It may not be easy to measure the success of summitry; however we can assess the contribution of summitry by analysing the functions of types of summitry to diplomacy. These summits can be classified into three; the serial summit, the ad hoc summit and the exchange of views summit. These different types of summitry serve different purposes. The function which the summits may promote include; promoting friendly relations, clarifying intentions, information gathering, consular work, and negotiation (Berridge, 1995, p. 84a). I intend to enumerate the contributions of summitry to diplomacy through the different types of summits. Serial Summit and its Contribution The serial summit is part of a regular series of meetings. There are numerous examples of serial summits, some of which include the Franco-German summits, G7/G8 summits (which are a contributory factor in international discourse,) ASEAN summits, US-AU summits. Another good example of a serial summit is the Western economic summits which have been held annually since 1977 at Rambouillet (Barston, 1988, p. 105) The serial summit is particularly useful for promoting friendly relations and negotiation; whether serial summits are frequent or separated by a year or more, and whether they last for hours or days, they may contribute to a successful negotiation between parties concerned (Berridge, 1995, p.85a). Firstly, they educate heads of governments without international experience; no head of government wants to make a fool out of themselves among other leaders, therefore they are motivated to work hard and develop themselves concerning matters of importance to avoid failure at the summit level; and they cannot afford to be ignorant. Secondly, they make package deals easier (Berridge, 1995, p.85a). Since it involves the interaction of political leaders who have maximum authority as policy makers, deals are therefore easier to seal appropriately and in a forthright manner. Another function of the serial summit is that it speeds up and sustains diplomatic momentum in the sense that it sets deadlines for the completion of an existing negotiation between the parties and it breaks any deadlocks in negotiation due to the fact that all the important policy makers are together. An example of a deadline was in a negotiation was December 1990 at the Brussels ministerial meeting in GATTs Uruguay Round (Berridge, 1995, p.153a). Serial summits are also useful for gathering information about other countries and their leaders, clarifying intentions, creating awareness, generating understanding and enhancing cooperation amongst members of the summits. The best example of the serial summit is the Franco-German summit which started in 1963 and since then, meets at least twice a year (Berridge, 1995, p.86a) Ad hoc Summitry and its Contribution Another type of summit is the ad hoc summit which is usually a one-off meeting convened to address a particular issue e.g. to address a crisis, although it might end up being the first of a series of other meetings and they usually generate more publicity than the serial summits. Special cases of ad hoc summits are working funeral which is a funeral of a major political figure that is attended by high-level delegates from all over the world (Berridge, 2002, p. 180b). Examples of ad hoc summits are the Cocaine summit, the Sino American summit, and the Camp David summit. Ad hoc meetings are very useful for imposing deadlines on a negotiation process. A case in point is the Camp David Summit of 1978, which was between Israeli, Egyptian and American leaders and lasted for the whole of thirteen days. Dunn states: It was deliberately described by President Carter as a last chance effort to breathe new life into the failing Middle East peace process which had started so dramatically with the initial meeting between Sadat and Begin. The singularity of this opportunity undoubtedly contributed to its final success (2004, p.153a). Ad hoc meetings are more suitable for symbolic purposes and they also provide a forum for the promotion friendly relations and fostering and leaders become familiarized with other heads of governments and states. An example of such a meeting is the encounter of President Clinton of the United States and President Hafez al-Assad of Syria in Geneva in January 1994. The two-day Ibero-American summit held in Mexico in July 1991 is also an ad hoc meeting that was aimed at promoting the growth of economic and cultural ties between its participants (Berridge, 2002, p.179b). Furthermore, funeral summits have contributed immensely to diplomatic affairs by carrying out the function of diplomatic signalling. According to Berridge: at the funeral of the Emperor Hirohito of Japan in Feb 1989, it was recorded that representatives from 160 countries including 14 representatives of royal families, 55 heads of states, 11 prime ministers were in attendance (2004, p. 172c). Firstly, it is a discreet opportunity for leaders to come together to meet on pressing issues at stake and also a disguise for low key exchange of views between contenders on how to manage conflict. Funeral summits are of diplomatic significance particularly if it is the funeral of a current president or head of state this is because it serves as an important opportunity for political lobbying. Berridge states that: the funeral is almost certain to be the first occasion for both foreign friends of the deceased to confirm that the new leadership remains wedded to their relationship and for foreign rivals to explore the possibility of a change of heart (2002, p. 180b). .High Level Exchange of Views and its Contributions Finally, there is the exchange of views meeting. This is a situation whereby heads of government visit series of countries on a foreign tour. It is usually relevant when a newly elected leader has come into power to educate and familiarize them on the international scene. (Berridge, 2002, p.181b) This summit also promotes more friendly relations between their countries and others. For example, in September 1994, the British prime minister went on a week-long trip to Abu Dhabi, South Africa and Gulf and other places where he visited the King of Saudi Arabia, and had friendly encounter with him (Berridge, 2002, p.181b) Finally, the exchange of views meeting can be very useful for promotion of trade and in taking up serious cases of maltreatment of nationals (Berridge, 2002, p.181b). Advantages of Summits Summits have symbolic importance for example the Moscow summit of 1972 was a representation of the new relationship of superpower dà ©tente. The Vienna summit of 1979 was also a way of symbolizing that there was a better relationship. For example, the Cold War summits held in Paris, November 1990, was used to advertise the end of disputes between the parties involved and to symbolize peaceful relations (Dunn, 1996, p.248c). In relation, summitry is a useful tool for promoting foreign and domestic propaganda; attracting the attention of domestic, foreign and global audience to some issues. It gives the idea that the government is busy doing something about an issue domestic or global, especially in democracies. An example of summit propaganda is the United Nations Summit on Climate Change in New York on 22 September 2009 and in Copenhagen Denmark, December 2009 to create momentum on greenhouse gas emissions (Dunn, 1996, p.249c). Summits also provide the opportunity for governments to come together and gather information about their counterparts, this helps to break down barriers of mistrust and suspicion, and thus they can build up friendly and trustworthy relationships with them. As a consequence of such high level meetings by top leaders that are responsible for government action, issues deliberated on produce efficient results in comparison (Dunn, 1996, p.248c). Furthermore, summitry serves an agenda setting function; this is an opportunity for global issues of overarching political or strategic importance to be brought up to the forefront and addressed effectively. Dunn states that it is useful for: elevating issues to the top of the international agenda and for dealing with problems of with speed and authority (1996, p. 251c). A case in point is the G20 summit in Huntsville, Ontario, Canada, June 25-27 of 2010 which will set global economic agenda. Disadvantages of Summits In as much as summitry has lots of advantages, and has contributed positively to the practice of diplomacy it has also faced oppositions from different angles. Over the years, the usefulness of summitry has been in question; it is surrounded by so many controversies and most of the major opposition arise from diplomats who claim that it meddles in their affairs and which has a demoralizing effect on them and other elements of the diplomatic service (Plischke, 1967, p.48). Another argument is that politicians are not professionally trained for diplomatic jobs; therefore they lack the know-how, the skills, and the patience to carry out that function effectively which consequently produces unfruitful results. Some of them might be misinformed, or may not know enough about a particular subject and this may actually limit the capacity of which they can discuss specific issues in detail (Dunn, 1996, p.254c). Furthermore, there is the challenge of lack of knowledge of the other partys point of view or miscommunication; this is especially common when leaders from different cultural backgrounds are involved in a summit and interpreters have to be used. As Leguey-Fellifeux states: Clashes of personality may complicate summit interaction, but cultural misconceptions are a more likely occurrence, as chief executives have less experience in cross cultural communication (2009, p. 302). Negotiations in circumstances like this might prove very difficult. In addition there is also the risk that agreements that were reached during such meetings are difficult to disapprove because they were sealed by the heads of governments themselves (Dunn, 1996, p.257c). Furthermore, summitry has been seen as a waste of time, effort and resources. It takes a lot of time to prepare, and attend a summit and it also takes a lot of resources to make sure that a summit is successful. Resources that could be used for other important things will be used to pay for security, meals, and luxury accommodation for these politicians. An associated disadvantage is the risk of travel, accidents could occur, and lives could be lost, also, illness could develop due to causes such as the weather and all sorts (Dunn, 1996, p.261c). CONCLUSION Over the years summitry as a method of conducting foreign relations has come to stay a part of the diplomatic process for better or worse. Even though it is risky, it has indeed contributed immensely to so many foreign issues at stake. Due to its multifaceted agenda, it has provided opportunities for package deals across different policy areas that it is now almost impossible to imagine conducting diplomacy without holding summits (Melissen, 2004, p.195). In as much as it has contributed positively to diplomacy, it can also be fatal if wrongly carried out as I have enumerated earlier. According to Dunn: it may create misunderstanding, cause unintended offence and sow the seeds of mistrust (1996, p.264c). Hence, it should be carefully strategized instead of eliminating it totally as a method of conducting foreign relations. Summit talks have to deal with specific issues rather than general atmospherics. According to Berridge et al: for talks to be meaningful they have to be well prepared; decisions to be taken at the summit have to be formulated in detail already in previous negotiations at subordinate levels (2001, p.201c). If prepared and conducted properly and with caution, summitry promises high satisfaction. Despite all criticisms, summitry has become the preferred means of international dialogue.