Philippine History :: Asian Asia History

Philippine History Spanish Colony 1565 - 1898 Ferdinand Magellan set out from Spain in 1519 on the first voyage to circumnavigate the globe with five ships and a complement of 264 crew. Three years later in 1522, only the one ship, the Victoria, returned to Spain with 18 men. The Philippines were the death of Magellan. The expedition sighted the island of Samar on March 16, 1521. Magellan was welcomed by two Rajas, Kolambu and Siagu. He named the islands the Archipelago of San Lazaro, erected a cross and claimed the lands for Spain. The friendly Rajas took Magellan to Cebu to meet Raja Humabon. Humabon and 800 Cebuanos were baptized as Christians. Magellan agreed to help Raja Humabon put down Lapu-Lapu, a rebellious datu on the nearby island of Mactan. In a battle between Spanish soldiers and Lapu-Lapu's warriors, Magellan was killed on April 27, 1521. Disputes over women caused relations between Raja Humabon and the remaining Spaniards to deteriorate. The Cebuanos killed 27 Spaniards in a skirmish and the Spaniards, deciding to resume their explorations, departed Cebu. For all its losses, the voyage was a huge financial success. The Victoria's 26 ton cargo of cloves sold for 41,000 ducats. This returned the 20,000 ducats the venture had cost plus a 105 percent profit. Four more expeditions followed between 1525 and 1542. The commander of the fourth expedition, Ruy Lopez de Villalobos, named the islands after Philip, heir to the Spanish throne (r. Philip II 1556-1598). The Philippines was not formally organized as a Spanish colony until 1565 when Philip II appointed Miguel Lopez de Legazpi the first Governor-General. Legazpi selected Manila for the capital of the colony in 1571 because of its fine natural harbour and the rich lands surrounding the city that could supply it with produce. The Spanish did not develop the trade potential of the Philippine's agricultural or mineral resources. The colony was administered from Mexico and its commerce centered on the galleon trade between Canton and Acapulco in which Manila functioned secondarily as an entrepot. Smaller Chinese junks brought silk and porcelain from Canton to Manila where the cargoes were re-loaded on galleons bound for Acapulco and the Spanish colonies in the Americas. The Chinese goods were paid for in Mexican silver. Spanish rule had two lasting effects on Philippine society; the near universal conversion of the population to Roman Catholicism and the creation of a landed elite.

Management Concepts Temasek Holdings Essay

1.0 Introduction Temasek Holdings is a large investment company based in Singapore. It is an active participator in the investment game, holding shares and investments in a broad range of industries all over the world. As with many companies all over the world, Temasek Holdings was affected strongly by the Global Financial Crisis, losing more than 30 per cent of the value of their portfolio (Schmermerhorn, J. Davidson, P. Poole, D. Simon, A. Woods, P & Chau, S.L. 2011). Temasek’s CEO Ho Ching has been criticised for the investment losses that occurred during the economic crisis, and must now lead the company through the increased turbulence that has been presented to them. In doing so, a potential issue that Temasek Holdings is currently facing is one of leadership. If correct management processes regarding leadership are not applied, the company could face even worse consequences. To ensure that leadership does not become an issue, Ho Ching must apply effective leadership techniques to Temasek Holdings. This report will investigate various leadership options, determining an adequate approach to leadership that will assist this company in being successful in the future. Two leadership models will be assessed in-depth. It is expected that both will assist the company in continuing in the long-term, however one option will be more suitable and beneficial to Temasek Holdings. 2.0 Literature Themes or Arguments As Temasek’s CEO has recently come under fire for her stability in leadership, it is apparent that a change must be made in the way the company is managed if they are to successfully remain with the same CEO. Leadership is fundamental in regular circumstances, but it is even more essential to the business through periods of instability, making it vitally important to the livelihood of the company to apply appropriate management procedures. It is impossible for a set of specific characteristics to define whether or not someone is a good leader, however some certain personal traits have been identified as being common among successful leaders: drive, self-confidence, creativity, cognitive ability, business knowledge, motivation, flexibility, honesty and integrity. (Schmermerhorn, J. Et al. 2011). Vision and power are also vital to good leadership; however all of these things are not achieved in the same way. Many different behavioural theories have been produced in an attempt to define good leadership styles. A widely used model of management is Fred Fiedler’s contingency model. Fiedler’s theory looks at matching various types of people to various situations, somewhat of an either/or concept. It is based on the fact that someone’s style of leadership is personality-based, thus making it difficult to change. Rather, the Fiedler model suggests putting people of specific leadership styles with situations that match that style, rather than trying to change their personal leadership style, to achieve success (Wang, Victor C X; Berger, Jim 2010, pg. 6). Fiedler classifies people into two leadership styles: relations-orientated and task-orientated. Relations-orientated people are defined as â€Å"a person who is motivated to seek prominence in interpersonal relations, who is concerned with good relations with others, who is considerate in his interaction with group members, and who tends to reduce anxiety and increase the personal adjustment of his co-workers,† (Hill, Walter. 1969, pg. 34) whereas a task-orientated person is characterised to be someone who â€Å"rejects those with whom he cannot work, and obtains need gratification and self-esteem from performance of the task. He is, therefore, concerned with performing the task and he is willing to relegate interpersonal relations to a secondary position† (Hill, Walter. 1969, pg. 35) Exhibit I (Hill, Walter. 1969, pg. 36) above shows how relations-oriented and task-oriented people are determined, through leader-member relationships, leader position power and task structure. It does this by determining how well a person interacts with people (relations) and how dedicated they are to tasks. According to Hill (1969), this model is effective and further tests done corroborate with Fiedler’s findings, making it an accurate model. Hill noted that there are so many variables that sometimes it is difficult to calculate the exact leadership style that is appropriate for someone; however it is useful as it helps to assign leaders to specific tasks and delegate how efficient leadership should be achieved. In regards to Temasek, it should be established what â€Å"type† of leader Ching is, and the company would need to work with that before any leadership goals should be established. Another common model is the Hersey-Blanchard Situational Leadership Theory (SLT). It is widely used in the business sector and was developed by Paul Hersey and Kenneth H. Blanchard. This model is based upon leaders adjusting their styles based on the maturity of their followers, which is indicated by the â€Å"readiness† (how able and willing or confident) of followers (Schmermerhorn, J. Et al. 2011). When maturity (psychologically and performance-wise) is reached, it means a reduction in support and guidance can occur, instilling a positive indication of trust and confidence. A manager must look at employees and evaluate how best to perform a certain task in a certain situation, and when the situation changes, the leadership style previously used may not be as successful in the new situation (Hambleton, Ronald K; Gumpert, Ray. 1982, pg 227). Again, leadership styles are defined as relationship-orientated and task-orientated, however in this model leadership styles are classified into four groups: delegating, participating, selling and telling. This model is beneficial to companies as it has various different types of stages based on top of the classification of relations-orientated and task-orientated leadership (Figure 1). It breaks down the two types further, into the four types above, thus making it easier to classify. Again, however, variables come into play, and it can be seen from various research that the SLT model does have its limitations. Goodson (1989) states that when further studies have been conducted on this model, the main classifier of groups (â€Å"maturity† or competence) makes almost no difference to the leadership style of a person (Goodson, Jane R; McGee, Gail W; Cashman, James F. 1989, pg. 446). Also, Goodson established that in these tests no actual measure of maturity and/or readiness was really possible when conducting research on the SLT model, making it difficult to say for certain whether the model can be effective. Furthermore, Blank (1990) makes further reference to the fact that there is little to no research supporting this model in his studies, saying that both basing the research on the main factor (maturity) as well as more complex methods, little support was found to corroborate with the main theorems of the model (Blank, Warren; Weitzel, John R; Green, Stephen G. 1990, pg. 579). false 3.0 Recommendations In the case of Temasek Holdings, it can be said that adopting a new leadership approach will be entirely beneficial for the company. No information is given as to what current leadership styles are used, but the amount of criticism being received currently illustrates that a change is needed. Of the two leadership theories discussed, it can be said that both have negative and positive points, as with any business directive. Fiedler’s model uses three determining factors: leader-member relationships, leader position power and task structure, to determine how a leadership style will work effectively. This is essentially beneficial to a business as it allows more than one factor to determine a leadership style, giving a more accurate description of what leadership style will fit a situation. This model was also corroborated with research conducted by Hill (1969) who conducted a study that demonstrated that Fiedler’s was almost always effective in the workplace. However, there were limitations in regards to variables. As every person is so different personality-wise there is a large number of variables, not all of which can be categorised. Because of this, some variables may be missed or excluded, but overall the final result does not change, making the model very effective. The second theory, Hersey-Blanchard’s SLT, uses maturity as the basis of calculating how a leadership style will be effective. This could be effective to some extent, however both Goodson (1989) and Blank (1990) argue that just one determining factor is not enough to warrant an effective model. The model is beneficial as it breaks down leadership styles into four obvious categories; the problem is determining which personality fits into these categories. No clear measure of maturity is possible, making it difficult to categorise leadership styles. Goodson (1989) also states that maturity and competence has no real effect on leadership styles. Looking at these results, it can be recommended that for Temasek Holdings to continue operating at a high level, the Fiedler model of contingency should be used as a model for assigning leadership tasks. Giving every leader in a business tasks based on their personality is advantageous as it means instead of the person working with something they are not specifically styled for, they are able to be fit with tasks that suit them. Overall, this will make a significant change both in employee satisfaction (workers are doing jobs that suit their personality style, thus making them more content) as well as production, as the leadership style they are assigned will work well for them. Models by Hill (1969) are further evidence that this model does indeed work, and that it can bring positive effects to Temasek in the future. If Temasek Holdings chooses to operate within this leadership model, criticism for the way the business is run will be lessened. Both in the short and long term this form of leadership will be beneficial to the company, affecting both large positions (for example, the CEO Ho Ching) as well as smaller managers within the company. The research shows that this is the best model for Temasek to use to bring it the most success in the future.

More Than Just an Argument Essay

Argumentative essay assignments are useful learning tools for helping students to both understand key concepts and in helping students to think critically. † Module 3 Case Assignment Nassal R. Braimbridge Trident University If you have ever attended college at some point you have had to write an argumentative essay. It is used to convey your thoughts, insights, and point of view to an audience in an attempt to persuade them. Extensive research is required to provide the facts and evidence required to support your argument and diminish your opposition’s argument. Argumentative essay assignments are useful tools for helping students to both understand key concepts and in helping students to think critically. This is due to the fact that creating an argumentative essay requires a lot of thinking and analysis. When most people think of an argument, it is thought of as a being something negative but according to David H. Jonassen and Bosung Kim (2010) â€Å"Meaningful learning requires deep engagement with ideas. Deep Engagement is supported by the critical thinking skills of argumentation. ’ They also stated that â€Å"Learning to argue represents an important way of thinking that facilitates conceptual change and is essential for problem solving. † This is impart to the fact that you are using the art of persuasion, rhetoric to sell your point of view to the reader, which requires a substantial amount of facts and evidence to validate your claims and enhance the level of trust that the reader has for both you and your opinion. A well written argumentative essay will present a strong claim and can appeal to the most resistant audience. This is achieved with the application of logic, reasoning and strategic analysis. In depth research coupled with a little creativity and some confidence are also necessary. In doing this you develop critical thinking skills which is defined by Michael Scriven and Richard Paul (1987) as â€Å"the intellectually disciplined process of actively and skillfully conceptualizing, applying, analyzing, synthesizing, and/or evaluating information gathered from, or generated by, observation, experience, reflection, reasoning, or communication, as a guide to belief and action. They also stated that â€Å"In its exemplary form, it is based on universal intellectual values that transcend subject matter divisions: clarity, accuracy, precision, consistency, relevance, sound evidence, good reasons, depth, breadth, and fairness. † One of the functions of higher education is to teach students how to think and a god way to do this is through argumentation. Debate as a teaching tool, has a place in pedagogical methods because it allows students to enhance critical thinking through investigating arguments, engaging in research, gathering information, performing analysis, assessing arguments, questioning assumptions, and demonstrating interpersonal skills. Initially, the researcher used debate in a Science, Technology, and Society course as a tool to introduce an experimental learning opportunity. The main objective of the course was to use a selection of modern topics in science and technology to increase communication and critical thinking. Debate was a natural fit for the course because the topic were tied to current events, and students were allowed to critically analyze a controversial topic while practicing other competencies like writing, presenting information and higher level thinking (Scott, S. 2009). Writing an argumentative essay also helps to improve conceptual understanding, as you have to put yourself in not only the shoes of your opponent but the shoes of your audience as well. This means anticipating any questions or concerns they might express and addressing them, it also gives you the opportunity to refute any arguments your opponent may have. In doing this you will be analyzing your supporting statements, determining the reason why someone would disagree with each point and what part of the issue concerns them the most. At the same time is also developing your solving skills as you trouble shoot problem before they occur and prepare for them. Argumentative essay assignments are useful learning useful learning tools. They foster the development of students’ critical thinking skills their conceptual understanding and problem solving abilities. It promotes creativity and confidence while improving students’ writing skills. A student’s rhetorical skills are also developed along with their presentation skills when they complete argumentative essay assignments. Work Cited Jonassen, D. , Kim, B. , (2010). Arguing to learn and learning to argue: design justifications and guidelines. Educational Technology Research ; Development. 58(4). 39-458. Scott, S. (2009). Perceptions of students’ learning critical thinking through debate in a technology classroom: A case study. Journal of Technology Studies. 34(1): 39-45. Michael Scriven, Richard Paul (1987). Critical Thinking as Defined by the National Council for Excellence in Critical Thinking. Retrieved from: http://www. criticalthinking. org/pages/defining-critical-thinking/766 Purdue Online Writing Lab (2011). Argumentative Essay. Retrieved from: http://owl. english. purdue. edu/owl/resource/685/05/

A View on Censorship and the Government essays

A View on Censorship and the Government essays The censorship of music and other forms of entertainment by the government have long been the topic of discussion among social and political circles. Some forms of censorship such as warning labels for parents can be helpful. However the censorship of music is just not right, and the government has no right to do so. All too often the government gets on a self righteous feeling and thinks that it is its right to control what goes in or out of this so called free nations minds. Censorship in music falls into one of those categories in which the American people and the American government, which is supposed to be a representation of the people, have extremely conflicting ideas on the subject. Some say that the government should regulate the music industry. They say that the American people dont know what is best for them as a whole. Their proof is in the increase in violence, crime, Unadulterated sex and other taboos that have been on the rise in recent years. There are those that say that the government should only slightly be involved. These are the proponents of warning labels and the like, and that is about the extent of what they want the government to interfere with. The remainder generally says that the government has no right infringing on entertainment at all. They say that the government does not have the right to decide what the people can or cannot see, read, or listen to. Most of those who are of the opinion to let government help regulate the entertainment industries take the all too familiar tragic occurrence at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado as proof of their position. On April 20, 1999, two students interred the school and killed twelve other students, a teacher, and then themselves, and set the media and the entertainment worlds ablaze. The two killers were said by their peers to be avid fans of Marilyn Manson, and were even said to almost ...

Balanced Budget essays

Balanced Budget essays Thomas Jefferson stated, "I place economy among the first and most important virtues, and public debt as the greatest of dangers. To preserve our independence, we must not let our rulers load us with perpetual debt" (Grinsburg 1). This quote illustrates the importance of maintaining a balanced budget; therefore, it is necessary to stand firmly resolved that the government should balance its budget. Three main arguments uphold this premise. They are as follows: 1. It is feasible for the government to balance the budget, 2. A budget deficit harms the United States through creating a trade deficit and increasing the national debt, 3. A balanced budget would benefit the United States by providing extra funds for social programs, tax cuts, and Argument 1: It is feasible for the government to balance its On of January 7, 1998, the U.S. Congressional Budget Office released a budget forecast that "shows the federal budget to be in effective balance, with a projected deficit of just $5 billion this year-a trivial percentage of an estimated $8.5 trillion gross domestic product" (Bartlett 8). The government was able to balance the budget without causing negative complications. This balance came absent of any significant tax increases and/or government cuts in spending. Because the United State's economy has been relatively productive in the past few years, the government was able to balance the budget through an increase in tax revenues. During this time the government was actually able to increase its spending somewhat, while the American people were free from additional tax burdens. In fact, according to the U.S. Treasury Department, "federal revenues are up 10.5% over the same period a year earlier, while spending is up only 3.8%" (Bartlett 6). Essentially, this shows that it is not only possible for the government to balance its budg...

Review of David Copperfield by Charles Dickens

Review of 'David Copperfield' by Charles Dickens David Copperfield is probably the most autobiographical novel by Charles Dickens. He uses many incidents of his childhood and early life to create a considerable fictional achievement. David Copperfield is also the novel that stands as a mid-point in Dickens oeuvresomewhat indicative of Dickens work. This novel contains complicated plot structures, a concentration on the moral and social worlds, and some of Dickens most wonderful comic creations. David Copperfield is a broad canvas on which the great master of Victorian fiction uses his entire palette. Unlike many of Dickens other novels, however, David Copperfield is written from the point of view of its titular character, seemingly looking back on the ups and downs of his long life. Overview of David Copperfield The story begins with Davids childhood, which is an unhappy one. His father dies before he was born and his mother re-marries the frightful Mr. Murdstone, whose sister moves into their house soon after. David is soon sent away to boarding school because he bit Murdstone when he was undergoing a beating. There, at the boarding school, he meets a couple of boys who become friends: James Steerforth and Tommy Traddles. David doesnt complete his education because his mother dies and hes sent to a factory. There, Copperfield meets Mr. Micawber, who is later sent to debtors prison. At the factory, he experiences the hardship of the industrial-urban pooruntil he escapes and walks to Dover to meet his aunt. She adopts him and brings him up (renaming him Trot). After finishing his schooling, he goes to London to seek a career and meets James Steerforth and introduces him to his adoptive family. At around this time, he also falls in love with a young girl, the daughter of a well-renowned solicitor. He also meets Tommy Traddles who is boarding with the Micawbers, bringing the delightful but economically useless character back into the story. In time, Doras father dies and she and David can be married. However, money is very short and David takes up various other jobs in order to make ends meet includinglike Dickens himselffiction writing. Things are not well with a friend from home – Mr. Wickfield. His business has been taken over by his evil clerk, Uriah Heep, who now has Micawber working for him as well. However, Micawber (along with his friend Tommy Traddles) determines to expose the bad dealings with which Heep has been taking part and finally, has him thrown out,  returning the business to its rightful owner. However, this triumph cannot be truly savored because Dora has become incredibly ill after losing a child. After a long illness, she finally dies, and David travels to Switzerland for a number of months. While hes traveling, he realizes that he is in love with his old friend, AgnesMr. Wickfields daughter. David returns home to marry her. A Coming of Age Story David Copperfield is a long, sprawling novel. In keeping with its autobiographical genesis, the book has a certain feel for the ungainliness and largeness of everyday life. In the earlier parts of David Copperfield, the novel has all of the power and resonance of Dickens social critique of a Victorian society that had very few safeguards against the mistreatment of the poor and, particularly in its industrial heartlands. In the later parts, we get Dickens most realistic and touching portrait of a young man growing up, coming to terms with the world and finding his literary gift. Although it certainly portrays Dickens comic touch to the full, it also has a  seriousness that is not always apparent in some of Dickens other books. The difficulty of being an adult, of marrying, of finding love and of getting on feel very real and shine from every page of this delightful book. Full of lively wit and Dickens characteristically finely tuned prose, David Copperfield is an excellent example of the Victorian novel at its height and Dickens master of it. Popular (like so many of Dickens works), it has deserved its sustained reputation through the twentieth and into the twenty-first century.

EasyJet A No Frills Airline Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 1

EasyJet A No Frills Airline - Assignment Example The disadvantages of the cost leadership strategy, as employed by EasyJet, include negative perceptions of quality, poor customer service, and unsustainable discounting systems. It is recommended that EasyJet adopt highly flexible strategic decisions, develop a more aggressive and direct strategy, and reevaluate its wage structure. Finally, it will provide a comprehensive conclusion, and make the necessary recommendations regarding the subject. This paper provides a comprehensive perspective of EasyJet as a company, including the cost leadership approach, which is the generic strategy favoured by the company. EasyJet is a leading budget airline that operates mainly in Britain and Southern Europe. The company’s headquarters are in Luton, Britain. According to Anderson (2014:41), as at December 2014, EasyJet employed almost 9,000 people and flew to over 600 destinations in 30 countries. In the financial year ended September 2014, the company posted revenues of  £4,527 million (Anderson, 2014:41). This represents a 6.3% growth in the 2013 financial year. Pre-tax profit, on the other hand, was  £581 million, representing a 21.5% increase in 2013. EasyJet’s 2014 financial results were positive to say the least, and reflected the strategic decisions made by the company to maximise efficiency and expand its services to more countries (Chen, 2013:34). The strategic plan implemented in 2013 was necessitated by changes in the global and European airline industries that complicated operating conditions for most airlines. EasyJet, however, has been able to not only adapt but also t o perform in spite of the conditions. As of December 2014, the company’s founder, Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou, is the largest shareholder (Doganis, 2013:38). Apart from basic travel, EasyJet offers a range of auxiliary services. For example, it collaborates with Gate Gourmet for its in-flight products and services, Europcar, for car hire services, and booking.com that